Vigil honors fallen Marine Cpl. Thomas Jardas

For those who knew Marine Cpl. Thomas Jardas, laughter was the balm that soothed their broken hearts.

Recalling a conversation, she said he told her he had really been working out and when she next saw him, she might think "jeepers, he sure is strong," a reference to the movie that sent her into giggles. "He told me never to tell anyone this," Christina Carrieri said. "He loved Disney. Hercules was his favorite."More than 250 people gathered at a candlelight vigil Thursday night in a courtyard at Cypress Lake High School, where Jardas graduated in 2011.

Jardas and 11 other Marines died in a helicopter crash over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii last week. After searching for five days, the military called off the search and rescue Tuesday night. The military changed the men's status to deceased on Wednesday.

A memorial service is at 3 p.m. Monday at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Fort Myers.

Then bagpiper Steve Adams, of San Carlos Park, played "Amazing Grace" transitioning to "Anchors Aweigh" and ending with  "God Bless America" as the Lee County Sheriff Department helicopter flew overhead in a salute. The vigil began with a moment of silence "for Tommy, our hero."

Schoolmates Victoria Gulinello and Savanna Reid joined Carrieri, as well as a fellow Marine, a Sunday school teacher and Cub Scout leaders as they told stories about ginger-haired cut-up with a loving soul.

Candles lit the mourners' faces, including Jardas' father, grandmother, uncles and other extended family, friends, members of several military branches and sheriff's deputies.

Jardas' mother, Beth Haely, and his sister, Haely Jardas, are attending a memorial today for the 12 Marines at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay and were unable to attend the vigil.

Tim Jardas, Thomas' father, accepted a battlefield flag from Capt. John Bunch of Operation Open Arms, a military support group.

"If you knew Tommy, you couldn't help but love the kid," Tim Jardas said.

He stood at the back of the crowd, holding the flag, and leaning against Tristain Wisely, Thomas Jardas' stepbrother, as they listened to the speakers. The pair occasionally wiped their eyes and quietly smiled as the speakers shared Thomas' antics.

Ben Homola, a Cub Scout leader in Pack 119, said he met Thomas Jardas as a 10-year-old.

"I didn't know what I was getting myself into," he said, drawing laughs when he said the familiar refrain on camping trips became "Where is he? Where did he go?"

As a Scout, Jardas helped others learn the ropes and revealed his "heart of gold," Homola said.

"I truly believe Tommy is all right with where he is," he said. "He did what he wanted to do; he succeeded in what he wanted and his heart was in the right place."

Gail Violet's son and daughter went to school with Jardas and his sister, Haely.

"It shouldn't be this way," she said, adding his "beautiful red hair and his spunk" were etched in her memory.

She sat in the courtyard as music honoring Jardas played on the speaker, including "Somewhere over the Rainbow," sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, a Hawaiian artist, and a song from the "Tarzan" movie.

Jardas was a good friend to Reid, saying after confiding in him, he made her promise to come to him and he would "talk her down."

"Because of Tommy, I am here today," she said. "He was a hero before he left for Marine boot camp."

Carrieri told of a crush and getting called out by a teacher during class. "Christina, stop flirting with Tommy," she recalled.

Mike Frick, a Marine and fellow Cypress Lake graduate, said the pair talked each time one got a promotion.

"Tommy was the kind of Marine that would give you every single cent he had," he said. "He would give every article of clothing he had on. He would give up his home for you if you needed it."

Tim Jardas said the stories have helped him get through the past few days, and people keep calling to tell him how much they loved his son.

He urged the crowd members to go home to their families.

"Hug your kids as often as you can," he said. "Tell them you love them as often as you can."

The vigil ended with Marines called to the stage. They sang while Adams played the "Marines' Hymn" in tribute to Thomas Jardas.

Deceased Marines

 Maj. Shawn M. Campbell, 41, College Station, Texas.

Capt. Brian T. Kennedy, 31, Philadelphia.

Capt. Kevin T. Roche, 30, St. Louis.

Capt. Steven R. Torbert, 29, Florence, Alabama.

Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina, 24, Chaska, Minnesota.

Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller, 25, Gardners, Pennsylvania.

Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler, 22, Woodruff, South Carolina.

Sgt. William J. Turner, 25, Florala, Alabama.

Cpl. Matthew R. Drown, 23, Spring, Texas.

Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas, 22, Fort Myers, Florida.

Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando, 23, Hingham, Massachusetts.

Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Aumsville, Oregon.