In a stunning display of gratitude and grief, hundreds of people attended the funeral of Army Spc. Jacob David Barton, and hundreds more lined the downtown streets of Rolla on Wednesday to pay homage to their own fallen soldier.
Barton, 20, shot and killed May 11 while deployed at Camp Liberty, near Baghdad, Iraq, was posthumously awarded a promotion to “specialist” by the U.S. Army shortly after his death.
Barton’s funeral service was held at Rolla High School, where he graduated in 2008. Afterward, he was interred at Rolla Cemetery.
The procession leading from the Rolla High School to the cemetery stretched for at least one mile as it slowly moved from 10th Street to Rolla Street on its way to the cemetery.
Led by a multitude of law-enforcement vehicles, and flanked by approximately 100 motorcycles with the Patriot Guard Riders, Barton’s funeral procession passed hundreds of supporters along the way. Supporters who, in the heat of the day, departed their jobs and businesses to pay their last respects to a man many of them did not know, yet for whom they still felt a heart-heavy debt of obligation.
Barton’s flag-draped casket was transported to the cemetery in a glass-sided motorcycle hearst.
Numerous military officials, many of them senior leaders from Fort Leonard Wood, attended Barton’s service and spoke of Barton’s exemplary service in the U.S. Army. Additionally, Barton’s uncle, Sgt. Marcus Barton spoke at the service, according to an attendee.
The 14th Military Police Brigade also rendered military honors at the service.
Barton’s immediate family requested the news media to refrain from attending Barton’s funeral services, explaining they preferred privacy during their time of grief.
It was reported one speaker at the service said Barton had never left the State of Missouri until he joined the Army.
Barton was awarded the Bronze Star and the Good Conduct medals by the Army, and the medals were presented to his sister, Hannah Barton, said a spokesperson at Fort Leonard Wood.
Additionally, a 21-gun salute, in three batteries of seven shots, was presented by the Honor Guard at Fort Leonard Wood.
Pallbearers included members of Barton’s family and fellow Army soldiers.
Barton’s sister was presented with the U.S. flag that draped his casket by an Army Major General.
Barton, stationed with the 955th Engineer Company, which is based in Fort Leonard Wood, was trained as a construction-equipment mechanic. Barton later deployed to Iraq with the 277th Engineer Company.
