Bennett Funeral Coaches:Funeral of Corporal Ross A. Smith

Corporal Ross A. Smith, aged 21, of Wyoming, Michigan, was killed in action on Thursday, February 9, 2006 while serving his country in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was born on March 4, 1984 and graduated from Wyoming Park High School in 2002. He loved sports and hangin' out with his friends, girlfriend and brothers. He joined the Marines after High School because he wanted to serve his country. This was his Third Tour of Duty in Iraq. He always enjoyed his time on leave so he could spend time with his family and friends and he looked forward to civilian life and going into business. Ross saw many in his Marine Corps Unit injured and killed in Iraq and he had a tattoo made in their honor. Ross was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill and Ike Hoogeveen, Helen Anderson, Joan Smith, and his uncle, Bill Hoogeveen. He will be greatly missed by his parents, Mark and Susan Smith; brothers, Matt (Brie), and Luke; nephews, Dylan, Kaleb; girlfriend, Samantha Legg; grandfather, Edwin Smith of CA; uncles, Mike Hoogeveen, Brian Hoogeveen, Glenn Smith, Tracy Smith; "special aunt", Mary Chew; aunts, Cathy Smith and Jane (Mike) Fleck; cousins, Cody, Jason and Stanson Smith, Angela, Rachelle and Nicole Hoogeveen and many Marine brothers and civilian friends. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 18th, 2006, at Grand Rapids First Church, 2100 44th Street SW, Wyoming, with Rev. Sam Rijfkogel, officiating. Interment Rest Lawn Memorial Park.

Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Directors conducted Corporal Ross' funeral service on Saturday, February 18th, at Grand Rapids First Church, Wyoming, MI. Governor Jennifer Granholm ordered flags lowered on Friday, February 17th, 2006, in Corporal Ross' honor:

Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff Friday for Serviceman Killed in Iraq

February 15, 2006

LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today ordered that United States flags throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters be lowered for one day on Friday, February 17, 2006, in honor of Marine Corporal Ross A. Smith of Wyoming who died February 9 while on active duty in Iraq. Flags should return to full-staff Saturday, February 18.

Marine Cpl. Smith, 21, was killed when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Fallujah, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Under Section 7 of Chapter 1 of Title 4 of the United States Code, 4 USC 7, Governor Granholm, in December 2003, issued a proclamation requiring United States flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters to honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in the line of duty.

When flown at half-staff or half-mast, the United States flag should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff or half-mast position. The flag should again be raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

The Marine Color Guard, placing Corporal Ross' flag draped casket in the hearse.

Displayed in a sea of vehicles lining-up for the procession, many from the community turned out to pay respects to Corporal Ross.

The Wyoming Police Department provided an escort, for the procession, to Rest Lawn Memorial Park.

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