Yucaipa on Friday remembered for Army Pfc. Tyler Davis, who was killed in action June 9 in Afghanistan. (KTLA-TV) |
YUCAIPA, Calif. (KTLA) -- An Inland Empire community gathered Friday to mourn a local solider killed weeks ago in Afghanistan.
Flags lined the streets of Yucaipa as friends, family and residents laid to rest Army Pfc. Tyler Davis, who was killed June 9 by a roadside bomb. The town of about 50,000 people packed the streets to watch the funeral procession drive by.
"It's unbelievable," said Yucaipa resident Shari Arrowood. "I've driven by here about four times today and every time there are more and more people."
Davis told his parents he wouldn't want a funeral marked by the traditional black attire. Instead, red, white and blue were seen all over town and inside Yucaipa Christian Church, where his memorial was held.
"He wanted everybody to stand together," said Davis' aunt Lea Davis. "He didn't want anybody to be mourning. This was for his country."
Davis is survived by his mother and father and two brothers.
The controversial Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church indicated it would have parishioners on hand to picket Davis' memorial, but were not seen in Yucaipa Friday.
Flags lined the streets of Yucaipa as friends, family and residents laid to rest Army Pfc. Tyler Davis, who was killed June 9 by a roadside bomb. The town of about 50,000 people packed the streets to watch the funeral procession drive by.
"It's unbelievable," said Yucaipa resident Shari Arrowood. "I've driven by here about four times today and every time there are more and more people."
Davis told his parents he wouldn't want a funeral marked by the traditional black attire. Instead, red, white and blue were seen all over town and inside Yucaipa Christian Church, where his memorial was held.
"He wanted everybody to stand together," said Davis' aunt Lea Davis. "He didn't want anybody to be mourning. This was for his country."
Davis is survived by his mother and father and two brothers.
The controversial Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church indicated it would have parishioners on hand to picket Davis' memorial, but were not seen in Yucaipa Friday.
