Cpl. Marc Ryan, U.S.M.C. (KIA)

Codey hails slain Gloucester City Marine

GLOUCESTER CITY - Cpl. Marc T. Ryan, a 25-year-old Gloucester City native killed Nov. 15 in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, served as an "image of bravery," Acting Gov. Richard Codey said at services for the slain Marine Tuesday.

Ryan, a former captain and standout linebacker for Gloucester City High School, was killed by an explosion during his third tour of combat duty, which followed two previous tours in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of family, friends, community members and dignitaries attended afternoon services at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Gloucester City. An honor guard of bagpipers led the casket past crowds of mourners to the church.

Inside, The Rev. James P. Curran presided over a Mass that included eulogies by Codey, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine.

Afterward, pallbearers carried Ryan's casket past a Marine honor guard as 200 people watched from the street. The hearse led a funeral procession to Harleigh Mausoleum in Camden, where, with full military honors, Ryan was entombed with his grandparents.

"In May he could have called it quits. He thought about a non-military career. After all, he had already done more for this country than most Americans ever will," Codey said in his eulogy. "But Marc could not ignore the news from Iraq. He could not ignore the fact that he still had brothers fighting and dying there. He wanted to make a difference."

A weapons specialist who last returned home in a surprise September visit, Ryan was remembered by family members as an athletic man who preferred walking through town to driving. He graduated in 1998 from Gloucester City Junior-Senior High School.

Captain of the school's football team, Ryan was named to the 1997 All-South Jersey team, as well as All-Tri-County and All-Group II First Team. He also received the school's Larry Pusey Award for Courage.

He joined the Marines after playing football for two years at Wesley College in Dover, Del., where he studied to be a teacher.

Ryan followed his father and grandfather - both long-time Gloucester City residents - into the Marines. According to family members he felt he was doing good fighting to liberate Iraq.

He planned to pursue a career in law enforcement when he returned to Gloucester City in May.

"We can never, ever repay him for his sacrifice. We can never repay his parents and siblings for their loss," Codey said. "At 25 years old, he showed a greater courage and strength than most people will ever be asked to show."

Ryan is survived by his father, Thomas E. Ryan, and mother, Linda Ryan, as well as a brother, Christopher D. Ryan of Gloucester City, and a sister, Lauren D. Ryan of Haddon Heights.