Monday, Nov. 8, 2004 | 11:05 a.m.
John Lukac was remembered Sunday as a hero, and he was remembered as a son who always wanted to be a Marine.
Family and friends said goodbye to the fallen 19-year-old Marine in a memorial service at First Presbyterian Church.
The service was also attended by many who never knew Lukac but wanted to pay their respects.
"These people who are fighting for us, they're fighting for our freedom. It doesn't matter if you know them or not, we have to pay our respects," said Rosalina Hagewood, who attended with her husband, Joseph.
She didn't know Lukac, but her son is also a Marine, only just returned from Iraq.
"I pray to the blood of Jesus Christ he won't go back," she said through tears. "Parents can't go through this any more, it's too much."
The service was conducted in English and Hungarian. The Lukac family is ethnically Hungarian and fled the former Czechoslovakia for a better life in America.
Next to the altar were American and Hungarian flags. In front were the reminders of a soldier gone: a folded flag, combat boots, a helmet on a rifle butt.
The church hall was silent except for stifled sobs as Rev. James Juhan, a retired Army chaplain, said there is no greater love than that of a man who gives up his life for friends.
Juhan told the story of a young chaplain and the services he conducted for soldiers killed in the Vietnam War. He said the feelings are the same and as hard.
"It's OK to be dismayed. It's OK to feel what we feel today."
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., thanked the family for their son's sacrifice. He said Lukac did not die in vain, but to bring hope to the people of Iraq and security home.
Ensign also spoke to John's 15-year-old brother, who took a pair of Lukac's dog tags with him.
"Peter, he was your hero. I'm glad you're looking up to somebody who's worth looking up to."
A Marine honor guard bugler played "Taps" before the family left the church. Lukac's father, Jan, walked in and out of the church leaning on Marines. He bowed his head into each hug of condolence.
Karen Rosenberg's son Damien "D.J." Federlin was among John's best friends. They joined the Marines together, she said, and were supposed to return home together, too.
Federlin is in Iraq near Fallujah, Rosenberg said, where U.S. forces were beginning a major assault Sunday afternoon.
"I'm scared, worried. He's my only child, but that's what he wanted to do," Rosenberg said.
She said she was proud of John Lukac and wore a black U.S. Marine Corps sweatshirt in his honor.
Lukac was killed along with seven other Marines and nine injured in an attack Oct. 30 in the Al Anbar province in Iraq.
Lukac's body arrived in a flag-draped coffin at McCarran International Airport Friday. Public viewing of the closed casket will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd.
After Sunday's service, Lukac's family thanked the Marines and community members for their support.
"I cannot express the goodness and kindness they have shown to the family and friends," Stephan Talan, a family friend, said. "The emotions were -- everybody was numb, so to say. There were no words to describe it."
Behind the family in the social hall of the church were pictures from Lukac's short life: as a child, graduating from Durango High School, as a Marine in uniform.
Helena Lukac said she was proud of her son and his service and sacrifice.
"I know my son was right. He chose to go in the right direction," she said. "His dreams were so much more to achieve, but somehow the Lord just gave us such short time."
A scholarship fund for Peter has been established in John Lukac's name. Donations may be sent to the Bank of America, routing No. 026009593, account No. 004970387707. Condolences can be mailed to the Lukac family, care of First Presbyterian Church, 1515 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV, 89102.
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