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Published on Friday, October 22, 2004
in the Palm Beach Post
PALM CITY - The last notes of taps still lingered as two U.S. Marines performed their solemn task: With hands covered in crisp, white gloves, they slowly lifted the American flag off the casket of their fellow Marine and folded it into a triangle.
Karen Zook cradled the flag as dozens of loved ones whispered condolences at her son's graveside Thursday morning. Cpl. Ian Zook was a true hero, they said after the service. He was the nicest guy you'd ever meet, they said.
As he folded the flag during the service, Cpl. Justin Jett knew his task held deep meaning. Jett had performed it before as part of his regular duties - but he never thought he would be doing it for one of his high school classmates, a friend he had seen as recently as December at another classmate's wedding.
"You hear about this all the time, but you never think it would happen," Jett said. "I know in my mind he was always a good Marine, a Christian and a great guy. He stood by what he believed."
Volunteering to fold the flag was the least he could do to honor one of the smartest guys he ever knew, Jett said.
"I know his parents will have that flag forever," he said.
Hundreds of people - family, friends and military veterans who never knew him - paid their respects to Zook, 24, who grew up in St. Lucie County and died last week as a result of "enemy action" in Iraq's Anbar province.
After a private funeral at Westside Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, Zook was buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Palm City with full military honors.
An honor guard of Marines fired three shots into the air as about 20 veterans stood behind Zook's family. Marine officials presented Zook's parents with their son's Purple Heart.
More than 70 officers from the Florida Highway Patrol also paid tribute to Ian, the son of Mark Zook, a 19-year state trooper.
Family members said Ian joined the Marines in 2001 as a stepping stone to a career in law enforcement, following in the footsteps of his father, a traffic homicide investigator.
Ian Zook was valedictorian of the Class of 1999 at Faith Baptist School in Fort Pierce. A devout Christian, Zook considered entering the ministry before deciding on the military.
Longtime friends said Zook took the time to stay in touch even as his military career led him to Georgia, California and eventually Iraq.
"I've never been so proud of anyone in my life," said Terry Brent, 22, who had known Zook since he was 6. "He was definitely the greatest friend I've ever had. He kept our friendship up even though miles separated us."
In September, Zook was driving a Humvee that hit an anti-tank mine, blowing off the vehicle's front half. One of his passengers lost a leg, but Zook suffered only minor injuries.
"He was so calm about it," said his friend Kimel Brent, 20. "He was proud to go over there and serve his country. That was a great testament to his character."
Lt. Col. Peter Ahern of the 4th Air/Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, known as ANGLICO, based in West Palm Beach, called Zook "not only a stellar human being but also a stellar Marine."
"He is exactly what we in the Marine Corps would think Americans would expect in a Marine: honorable, brave and loving," Ahern said