BAY MINETTE — Monday was a solemn day in Bay Minette as a marine from Perdido who gave his life in service to his country was laid to rest.

Lance Cpl. Bruce "Bubba" Ferrell, 21, was killed Aug. 10 by a roadside bomb while on patrol. Ferrell was stationed in Afghanistan.

"Bruce's bravery, his dignity, his courage is why this country is free. We have freedom today because of Christ and men and women of the military like Bruce," Sister Helen Stewart, who officiated the service, said.

Veterans lined the entrance to the John F. Rhodes Civic Center, where the service was held. Every chair was filled, the walls were lined from the front doors nearly to the back doors, more stood in the lobby, and the 500 programs printed were not enough.

Two marines stood at attention on either side of the flag-draped casket between photos of the Lance Cpl. as state representatives and veterans honored Ferrell.

Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Daphne, and Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, attended on behalf of Alabama Gov. Bob Riley.

"He extends his sympathy to Bruce and Pam, parents and family of Bruce "Bubba" Ferrell," Pittman said.

"On Aug. 10, while involved in Operation Enduring Freedom, this extraordinary individual made the ultimate sacrifice.

"He is a great American and a great man. He is an Alabamian of distinction," Pittman said.

Pittman and Baker presented a certificate of commendation to Ferrell's parents, Pam and Bruce Ferrell Sr.

A member of the military representing the State of Alabama honored the fallen marine with the State of Alabama Distinguished Service Medal and presented it to Ferrell's family.

Finally, John Beaver of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Gordon Phillips of the American Legion, presented the Ferrell family with the Gold Star Banner.

"You can put this in your window to remind everyone of the sacrifice Bruce made and show all your sacrifices," Beaver said.

Still more moving was when a family member read memories from Ferrell's "maw-maw" and "paw-paw" Ferrell.

"Little Bruce loved to fish. I remember the first time I took him fishing. As I was moving the fish from the boat to the cooler, I looked back to check on Bruce. He was throwing the fish back into the water," she read. "I told him not to throw too many back because we wouldn't have enough for dinner."

She went on to explain how Paw-Paw Ferrell then showed "Little Bruce" how to clean and scale the fish.

"The next morning he brought me two little fish and said 'Paw-Paw, can we eat these too?' Little Bruce had killed and cleaned his two goldfish."

Though that story did draw a chuckle from those in attendance, the recollection of Bruce's last conversation with his grandparents left not one dry eye in the Civic Center.

"He hugged Maw-Maw and looked in her eyes to see if she was crying, so she held back. Then he hugged Paw-Paw, and Paw-Paw told him, 'Bruce, when you step off that plane you're going to be in dangerous territory. Take care of yourself and your friends.'"

The woman, stopping occasionally to collect herself, said Ferrell's favorite song was 'Long Way to Go and a Short Time to Get There.'

"Dad told him to slow down and Bruce looked at his watch and said 'Can't dad, I've got so many people to see and so little time, I've gotta go,'" she said.

"Bubba always seemed to have time for everyone," she said.

Sister Stewart began the service with a touching and appropriate passage from the Bible, John 15:13 — “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

"(Bubba) could have made a choice not to join the marines, not to defend his country," she said. "And mama was going behind his back all the time trying to stop the process, yet his mission and his dream moved on," she said.

"When he said he was joining the marines, someone asked him 'are you certain?', and he said 'I want to do this for my family, my friends and my country even if it means I must die for it.'"

Stewart said Ferrell was one of the few who lived what he said.

"Anyone can fake it, anyone can say it, but not everyone means it. Many say I love you, Mama, Bruce lived it," she said.

As the service concluded, the marine pallbearers marched to the side of the casket, faced it and gave one final salute to the comrade they had lost.

Then they carried the flag-draped casket out. Even God seemed to be mourning as rain fell on the procession.

Ferrell leaves behind his parents; a brother, Dustin Ferrell and a sister, Tiffani Scarbrough, both of Perdido; his grandparents, Melvin and Charles Ferrell of Perdido and Bonnie Whatley.

He follows in death his sister, Danielle Whatley and his grandfather, Herman Whatley.

He was buried with full military honors at Bryars McGill Cemetery.