Outpouring of Support Moves Marine’s Family
As his mother stood before a phalanx of TV cameras and microphones on her Costa Mesa lawn, a brave but pained smile on her face, tributes and honors for fallen Marine Cpl. Jose Angel Garibay came one after the other Wednesday.
Simona Garibay clutched a framed certificate of U.S. citizenship granted posthumously to her son, the first Mexican-born and first Orange County serviceman killed in the Iraq war. U.S. and Mexican flags hung at half staff. Flowers and candles were bunched near the doorstep, and a large portrait of the handsome Marine in dress uniform decorated the lawn.
Costa Mesa Police Chief David L. Snowden then stepped forward to announce that another of the young military man’s dreams would come true: Garibay was made an honorary Costa Mesa police officer. The young man had told his family before shipping out that he wanted nothing more than to be an officer in his hometown when his enlistment was up in 2004.
Police veterans said they believe it is the first time in the department’s history that an outsider has been so honored. A plaque from the department was given to the family.
The Police Department also will escort the funeral caravan on its 51-mile journey from St. Joachim Roman Catholic Church in Costa Mesa to the Riverside National Cemetery. Family and guests will be transported by four buses donated by the Orange County Transportation Authority. Garibay will be buried with full military honors.
A scholarship fund in Garibay’s name has been established through the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund. And representatives of Families of Costa Mesa, a community resource center, announced the formation of a Spanish-speaking version of Mothers of Marines, a support group.
Urbano Garibay, the uncle whom the Newport Harbor High School graduate looked upon as a surrogate father, offered the family’s thanks for an outpouring of support they have received since Garibay was killed in action March 23 along with seven other Marines near Nasiriyah, Iraq.
The former high school football player joined the Marines three years ago, handling mortars for a weapons platoon. He was shipped to the Middle East three months ago.
He died in the first three days of the war, putting the spotlight on thousands of “green-card troops” who have volunteered to fight for their adopted country.
“Somehow, he touched a lot of hearts, and all these people tried to make his dreams come true,” Urbano Garibay said.