News

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Larry Johnson

By Sherry Long slong@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

SCRANTON – U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Larry Michael Johnson was laid to rest Saturday after the 19-year old Scranton native died more than a week ago in Afghanistan as he was defending America.

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U. S. Marine pallbearers bring the body of Lance Cpl. Larry Johnson to the grave for burial at Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton.

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From left, Jeff Whitney and Johanna, Ashley and Janis Johnson grieve during the burial service of Lance Cpl. Larry Johnson at Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton.

Don Carey photos/THE TIMES LEADER

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Johnson received his first communion, baptism and confirmation as he grew up in St. Joseph Church on Davis Street. He returned to the church, now known as Divine Mercy Parish, at 9:30 p.m. Friday as a U.S. Marine honor guard stood vigil with Johnson overnight until the Mass of Christian Burial began at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Johnson was remembered as a war hero who gave his life so other people might not feel the devastating effects of terrorism.

As the Rev. Francis L. Pauselli presided over the service in the packed church, he spoke of Johnson’s bravery. He spoke of how the proud Marine served and died in what Pauselli said could arguably be the most dangerous part of Afghanistan – Helmand province – because it is far from Kabul and is in the center of a drug trade.

“Larry was deep in hostile ground. He gave his life for this country and for freedom and for the way we live,” Pauselli said.

“We send him home as a hero. We send him to be with our God who loves him unconditionally and totally. We know that he will keep him safe until that day when we will all be together again in God’s kingdom, where there will be no more wars, no more explosions and only happiness.”

More than two dozen veterans and other soldier supporters from Patriot Guard Riders, Rolling Thunder and Friends of the Forgotten lined the walkway to the church entrance proudly displaying American flags.

Army veteran Larry White, of Laceyville in Wyoming County, was just one of the multitudes to attend the funeral to honor Johnson, even though he didn’t personally know Johnson.

“All my brothers in arms need to be honored in such a way that it brings notice to the public of the heroism that they present in today’s world. Individuals have to realize our armed forces are out there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter what the weather is, standing guard in vigilance of us. This is just doing a part to pay that respect back,” said White, who retired two years ago after serving in the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

After the patriotic-themed service that didn’t leave a dry eye in the entire sanctuary, Johnson’s body was escorted to the Cathedral Cemetery by a procession that passed underneath a huge American flag that waved in the wind as it was suspended between two City of Scranton fire truck ladders.

After arriving at the snow-covered cemetery, U.S. Marine honor guard members from the Wyoming barracks served as pallbearers, laying Johnson in his final home, near his maternal grandparents. His mother was presented the American flag that previously draped her son’s casket by 1st Lt. Rodney Malone of the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion of Camp LeJeune, N.C.

While Malone did not personally know Johnson, he traveled to Pennsylvania to “show support for him and his family.”

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.