A Morrisville Marine will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

Mark Adams, 24, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee last week.

A funeral for Adams was held in Cary on Saturday. Fellow wrestlers, Marines, family and friends all came to honor the life that was taken too early.

Shrapnel from a roadside bomb may have claimed Adams’ life but it did not take his memory from the countless people he touched.

“He was younger than me but I looked up to him,” a fellow Marine said. “He taught me about values, good family. He was a good-hearted man.”

After helping his Cary wrestling team win state, Adams enlisted in the Marines and served his country for four years. Adams then spent a year working, going to school and volunteering as an assistant wrestling coach at Cary High.

“He was a leader so when he was in charge of something or a leader he did a good job of it,” said his mom, Rene' Adams.

Adams re-enlisted in the Marines and was in his first month of service in Iraq when his family got the news of his death.

“And I told my son, ‘Mark, you can get killed over there’ and I'll never forget these words he said, ’Daddy, I'm not afraid to die for my country,’” added Adams’ father, Phillip Adams.

Adams is the youngest of three brothers who are all serving their country. He will be laid to rest Tuesday afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.