JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It was a small town celebration for a decorated hometown hero. Corporal Jesse Stites received his diploma at Interlachen High School six years ago and today he received a twenty one gun salute there, remembering him and his service.
"He loved his country and he wanted to be the best soldier he could be and I think he did," said Martha Stites, Jesse's aunt.
Stites was on his second deployment to Afghanistan with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363. On January 19th, his helicopter crashed killing him and five other marines.
"Nobody chooses to make the ultimate sacrifice but when called upon to do so, he and all of his brothers will never turn their backs," said Sgt. Matthew Carey with Interlachen's Junior ROTC program.
In the military, Stites was known for his bravery, earning a number of awards, but back home, friends knew him as a gentleman.
"He was the kind of student that I tell my students not that they should try to be," said Stite's former history teacher, Elizabeth Middleton.
And although saying goodbye is never easy, his family told us he'd want those who knew him to pick their heads up.
"He would want you to be happy," said Martha. "He just enjoyed life and he'd want everyone else to enjoy it."
The Interlachen Junior ROTC are planning to memorialize Stites with a monument on their campus.
