North Attleborough recalls Marine killed in Afghanistan

The Marine was given a last tour through town, passing through places that held sentimental value, on his way to a military burial at the Massachusetts National Veterans Cemetery in Bourne. The route through this tight-knit community was marked by yellow bows on telephone poles and crowds of residents holding small American flags. Waiting for the procession, some people chatted about their personal moments with Van De Giesen, or of being in the stands when the strong-armed quarterback led the North Attleborough football team to the state championship 12 years ago.

Others talked about the helicopter accident in Afghanistan less than two weeks ago that took Van De Giesen’s life at the age of 29, leaving behind his pregnant wife, Megan, and 18-month-old daughter Avery Grace.

“It’s such a tragedy. He was a young family man,’’ said Karen Drought, 63, standing on Landry Avenue, not far from the school. “My husband is a vet, as were my father and grandfather, so this weighs on us heavily. He gave his life for us.’’

Matt Kuc, a 30-year-old retired army sergeant, held up a crisp salute as Van De Giesen’s hearse and family passed by. “He was a great guy. We enlisted in the military together, a group of about 10 of us,’’ said Kuc, who spent about 18 months in Kosovo, during that territory’s tumult. “I’ve known a few people who came back injured, or never came back, and it never gets easier.’’

Before the last tour through town, about 1,500 people packed the Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street for a funeral Mass steeped in military tradition and Catholic ritual. Governor Deval Patrick was among those who attended the Mass.

While few in the sanctuary held back tears, the service set an uplifting tone, focusing on how Van De Giesen lived, not on how he died. He was remembered as a man dedicated to both the Marines and his family.

“He was a friend of mine,’’ said Captain Michael Rozzetti, one of two Marines who spoke during the Mass. “A brother in arms, we served together.’’

Rozzetti then read from a letter written by the Marine’s father, Calvin Van De Giesen, to his son after he died in the crash.

“You’re my heart, you’re my soul, you’re my son,’’ the father wrote. “Our Megan and our children will be fine, we will take it from here.’’ Captain Van De Giesen also leaves his mother, Ruth Ann, two brothers, Christian and Ryan, and a sister, Caitlin, all of North Attleborough.

Van De Giesen and three other Marines died on Oct. 26, when two helicopters, an AH-1 Cobra and a Huey, collided over Afghanistan in Helmand Province. Van De Giesen was piloting the Cobra and Captain Eric Jones, 29, whose parents live in Mashpee, was piloting the Huey. A funeral service is planned for Jones at 10 a.m. today at the John Wesley United Methodist Church in Falmouth, and burial will follow at the cemetery in Bourne. Jones grew up in Westchester, N.Y., and was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California.

Van De Giesen questioned his faith in the midst of war, but recently e-mailed his wife that he would attend church regularly upon his return, the Rev. David Costa, said in his homily.

Van De Giesen was the first service member from North Attleborough to die in a war zone since Alfred St. Lawrence, was killed in the Vietnam War on June 1970.

As the North Attleborough High School students returned to class, Alex Goldman, a 16-year-old junior, said, “It was the greatest thing you can do for your country, and he’ll be remembered for a long time.’’