Two years ago, when Galvez and his best friend, Lance Cpl. Robert Clark, graduated from boot camp, Galvez raised the first flag up a pole his father installed in the front yard. "And it's been flying every day," Tony Galvez said.

On Tuesday, Clark's brother, Nick Clark, stopped by to hug the parents of Galvez, whom he described as a "little brother." The plan is for Robert Clark to escort Galvez's body from Maryland to Utah this weekend.

Galvez leaves behind his parents, a brother and a sister. He also had a girlfriend in California.

While in Iraq, Galvez called his family every week.

"He kept us in his life," Amy Galvez said. "I feel very honored, because a lot of parents don't have that."

Since they were notified Sunday of their son's death, both parents have gone through periods of denial and disbelief, then grief and even anger, particularly over people who protest the war.

Both mother and father singled out Cindy Sheehan, who also lost a son to the war, and Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson. Anderson invited Sheehan here to help him hold a protest during next week's 88th annual National Convention of the American Legion, expected to draw 12,000 people to Salt Lake City. President Bush is also scheduled to speak to veterans during the convention.

"You either support the war, or you don't support the troops," Tony Galvez said.

Amy Galvez said the words of protest offered by Sheehan and Anderson are a "plague" on U.S. troops. She admitted that war is not "nice," but added that she believes it is necessary. Amy Galvez said she hopes people will turn out for a separate planned rally next week to support the troops.

Tony and Amy Galvez said they will continue to support Marines through a project they helped start called, "Cool Marines."

The project started when they sent their son a care package that included a kind of necktie and a cap, each of which has special "crystals" woven in to help keep the wearer cool when the fabric is wet. More Marines wanted the product, and now there is a Web site, www.coolmarines.net, with more information on how people can get involved.

"We're going to do this," Amy Galvez said. "We want to support the Marines."

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com