The Rev. Dr. Arvin Luchs, senior minister at Portland's First United Methodist Church (and my former boss), led the funeral yesterday for another Oregonian lost in Iraq.  U.S. Marine Capt. Christopher T. Pate was 29.  The Oregonian reports:

Under a gray sky, the Rev. Arvin Luchs, a Methodist minister, quoted the 23rd Psalm: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil."

But Luchs also spoke of the Buddhist concept of enlightenment called Sukhavati, a pure land with fragrant rivers and sweet sounds.

A spit-and-polish Marine honor guard fired three volleys. A Marine presented Jerry Pate with the flag from his son's casket and his son's Purple Heart medal. Three leather-clad bikers from a group that honors fallen soldiers, led by a man who calls himself Bubz, also knelt to address Jerry Pate during the ceremony.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski told mourners that he would have liked to know someone as interesting, with such a life force, as Chris Pate.

"I salute him and call him the best Oregon has to give," Kulongoski said. "He was a wonderful young man and an outstanding Marine."

Luchs urged everyone to safeguard the memory of Pate.

"What is remembered never dies and is never lost," he said. "Our eyes are filled with tears, our minds are numb with loss. We will never forget his bravery or his sacrifice."

Capt. Pate attended Aloha High School, where my wife once taught. 

65 Oregonians have now been killed in Iraq.  Over 2,000 Americans have lost their lives in this conflict and somewhere around 40,000 Iraqi civilians have died.