The streets in a Visalia neighborhood are lined with American flags and yellow ribbons to honor Marine Jared Verbeek's life. His family members are hoping the community will come out to pay tribute to Verbeek's life this week.
Marilou Sisto-Villareal recalls a touching moment her sister experienced when the body of her nephew, Lance Corporal Jared Verbeek arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. She says Jared's 18-month old son Jacob, was trying to comfort his grandma. "He took my sister's face with his two little hands and went like this and brought over to her and gave her a kiss and he's never done that before. He was providing, I don't know. Does he know? Does an 18-month old know?"
Lance Corporal Jared Verbeek was killed in Afghanistan last week from an improved explosive device. American flags and yellow ribbons line the streets of the neighborhood where his parents live.
Neighbor, Rick Hampton said, "I think it's great you look around see all the American flags it's a terrible thing to have happened but like one of the neighbors said if this is what we can do to make it a little bit better."
The 22-year-old's body will arrive at Lemoore Naval Air Station on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Sisto-Villareal hopes people will come out with American flags and signs as he is taken from Lemoore to the Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel.
Sisto-Villareal said, "Show my sister that she didn't sacrifice her only son in vain."
On Friday, Jared Verbeek's funeral services will be held at the Visalia Nazarene Church. After his burial, his family will return back to the church to hold a reception, celebrating Verbeek's life.
"I would like him to be remembered as a great selfless fun loving beautiful man as a hero," said Sisto-Villareal. "As a man that loved this country and sacrificed his life."
The public is invited to line the streets as his body arrives in Visalia. The procession will travel east on Highway 198. Then once in Downtown Visalia, it will go south - down locust, left on Tulare, right onto Court Street headed south to Caldwell and then east on Caldwell to the Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel.
Funeral services for Lance Corporal Jared Verbeek will be held Friday at 10:00 a.m. at the Visalia Nazarene Church. The address is 3333 West Caldwell Avenue in Visalia.
