Utah Marine given a hero's send-off

White and red Converse sneakers once worn by Marine Cpl. Adam Galvez lay on a table near his flag-draped casket.

Close by on the ground, a pair of military-issue boots were propped up as part of a memorial honoring the man remembered Wednesday for the boy he was and the kind of Marine he became.

Funeral services were held at the Calvary Chapel of Salt Lake, with a burial that followed at Camp Williams.

Galvez, who was assigned to the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, in Twentynine Palms, Calif., was killed Aug. 20 when a roadside bomb exploded under his vehicle, also killing a second Marine and a Navy seaman. Galvez, 21, was one month from returning home to Salt Lake City.

"Adam was a person of strong character," said Sgt. Matt Gomez.

Last month Galvez was almost the victim of a suicide bomber, who detonated a device outside a building, causing it to collapse on Galvez and other Marines. Without a gun of his own and while being fired upon by 12 to 15 insurgents, Galvez used a shovel to try to free his "brothers" from the rubble, Gomez recalled.

"It was the type of person Adam was," he said. "You will always be my brother — God bless you."

At the front of the chapel, several photos depicted a young Galvez on a river trip with his parents, Tony and Amy Galvez. He was pictured eating a hot dog loaded with ketchup and mustard. There was a shot of Galvez as a baby.

"We have come to celebrate the life of Adam Galvez," said Calvary Pastor Terry Long.

And so memories of a boy were offered up, including his sister Sarah's story of how her brother would seek out the family cat for a dip in the backyard wading pool. The mischievous Galvez was also known for being helpful to others.

"I will miss all of my brother's advice," his sister wrote in a statement.

Galvez fought with his brother, Travis, who said it was only natural. " I just wish he could have said goodbye," Travis added.

About 250 people listened to Galvez's uncle, Joe Gierhart, describe the fallen Marine as being like a brother, always smiling, a shoulder to lean on and someone who loved to play baseball.

Next to the Converse sneakers on the table in the chapel was an old baseball glove that belonged to Galvez.