Fallen Marine Laid To Rest

EVERETT, Mass. -- Family and friends of a young Marine who was killed in Iraq laid him to rest on Friday.

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that Lance Cpl. Edward Garvin, 19, was killed last week during combat in Iraq's Anbar province.

Garvin and his childhood sweetheart, Melissa, were married for only a couple of months before he was deployed.

"Edward Marcel Garvin was not just a Marine, he was my husband. He inspired me to do everything that I have accomplished in my life," Melissa Garvin said.

Garvin's funeral procession passed Lincoln Elementary School, where the couple met as children. They both attended Northeast Metro-Regional Voc-Tech High School.

"We met in the second grade, and we were never apart since," Melissa Garvin said.

"I don't think Eddie set out to prove anything. (After) listening to you all talk about Eddie, his main objective in life was making people laugh -- whatever he did, wherever he was, " said the Rev. Robert Bowers.

"Before he left for Iraq, we used to talk about what to do if anything happened to either one of us. He wanted me to let everyone to know that he loved them, and to celebrate his life, and not cry about him being gone," Melissa Garvin said.

Garvin was killed four weeks into his tour in Iraq.