KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |A Fallen Soldier Remembered

A Fallen Soldier Remembered

Army Specialist Ryan Alan Bishop, 32, was buried today in Tyler.  It's been more than a week since he was killed by a roadside bomb while on foot patrol south of Baghdad. After his death, Bishop was symbolically promoted to the rank of corporal.

KLTV 7's Lindsay Wilcox was at the funeral service at Pleasant Hills Baptist Church in Tyler as friends and family said goodbye. 

A tolling bell, and a hand placed over his heart.  It's David Hall's way of saying thank you to a fallen American soldier.  "The Liberty Bell stands for the values for which our soldiers fight, and it's only fitting that the bell come to toll for this soldier who died for his country," said Hall.

Members of the Patriot Guard Riders were proudly holding American flags outside of the funeral and bearing a plaque as a small token of appreciation for his family.

Robert Young with the Guard says families are always very touched by the gesture.  "They find it incredible that perfect strangers would want to come and stand out here in honor of their relative's sacrifice, and I've seen them walk the line and thank each one of us individually," said Young.

During the funeral services, Specialist Ryan Alan Bishop was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq, but from the altar, his family reminded everyone that they want Ryan to be remembered for the way he lived.

Wearing his dog tags, Ryan's wife, Melanie shared the sentiments she will miss the most about him;  the same sentiments she shared with KLTV earlier this week.  "I'm going to miss everything there is. His flaws were my favorite. His good points were the greatest; everything. There's nothing at all that I won't miss," said Melanie.

Chris Hodges, a long-time friend says, "It gets overused, but Ryan was honestly one of the best people you could ever know and ever be friends with and every be in contact with. I mean, everybody that he knew, everybody he had contact with, he just made an impact on them."

As friends and family tearfully left for the cemetery, they were grateful for the outpouring of support in the midst of this overwhelming tragedy.

Corporal Ryan Bishop leaves behind his wife, brother and father.

Lindsay Wilcox, Reporting.  lwilcox@kltv.com