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The songs played over a photo slide show of DePrimo projected onto a screen in the middle of the West Pittston armory.
Within a few minutes, mourners saw a lifetime.
Images of him playing soccer and with his trusty guitar. Photos with family and with comrades. One showed him skydiving, while another was of him gathered with his family for the last time in February at his sister Jodi’s wedding.
“It tells a story about him growing up and his time in the military. It’s a perfect blend of who he is,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Zarnowski, DePrimo’s commanding officer with the 109th Infantry. “The family asked us specifically to play his music. It’s a privilege for us to let everyone hear what his other passion was. He loved music and he loved the military. To combine the two today goes without saying.”
Hundreds arrived to pay respects to the fallen Army officer on Tuesday, including dozens who braved torrential downpours that broke out about 90 minutes into the wake service.
The Pittston man was killed last week in a roadside bombing in Ghazni, Afghanistan.
Family and friends say the 35-year-old will best be remembered as a talented musician, expert car detailer and dedicated patriot.
The 1991 Seton Catholic High School graduate joined West Pittston-based Delta Company of the 109th Infantry in 2003 and graduated from Officer Candidate School in 2005. Military officials said he was among the first to volunteer for the mission to Afghanistan.
“It’s heart-wrenching. He’s an absolute hero,” said Kathy Jo Donahue, who worked with DePrimo, his father Joseph and uncle Matthew at Barber Ford in Exeter. “My heart goes out to his father. They were best friends.”
Inside the armory, a large sign, inscribed with “Jeffrey DePrimo: A true American hero,” greeted well-wishers in the lobby. Dozens of people signed it with messages, such as “The music lives on …”
The slide show played in a cordoned off area in the middle of the building. Blue curtains lined the way to DePrimo’s family and the soldier’s casket. Two Pennsylvania Army National Guard soldiers stood on each side of the flag-draped coffin. A giant United States flag served as the backdrop behind the casket, pictures and floral array.
About a dozen members of the Patriot Guard Riders lined both sides of the walkway to the armory, forming a gauntlet of American flags. The motorcycle group attends funerals of fallen servicemen and women to honor the deceased, comfort the family and protect against disturbances.
“We’re here whenever the family calls,” said Lori Nuss, of Hazleton, a regional ride captain. “It’s a visible show of support.”
Among those who came to pay their respects was Jack Cleary of Dallas Township, father of Army 1st Lt. Michael Cleary, 24, who was killed in December 2005 in Iraq.
“My heart breaks for them,” Cleary said while leaving the armory. “There’s grief. You have to go day by day.”
bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055
