US Army Spc. Justin Garcia, 26,from Valley Cottage

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My condolences to his wife, family, friends and the Valley Cottage, Congers and Clarkstown communities. I am sorry for your loss and I thank Spc. Garcia for his distinguished service.

Services scheduled for Valley Cottage soldier killed in Iraq

By Christina Jeng

The Journal News

(Original Publication: November 19, 2006)

If you go:

A wake will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at T.J. McGowan Sons Funeral Home, 113 Lake Road E., Congers.

A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Church, 82 Lake Road, Congers.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Michelle Garcia Fund c/o Bank of New York, 56 Lake Road, Congers, NY 10920.

VALLEY COTTAGE - A wake for Spc. Justin Garcia, a 26-year-old soldier killed in Iraq last week, will be held Tuesday at the T.J. McGowan Sons Funeral Home in Congers.

Garcia was on his first tour of duty in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near the Humvee he was riding in on Tuesday.

His body arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on Friday and is to be escorted to the funeral home by military police tomorrow.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Church in Congers, the same church where Garcia and his 23-year-old bride, Michelle, were married last year.

"We're expecting a huge outpour -friends, family, fire departments, all military," said Donna Narciso, Garcia's mother-in-law.

During Wednesday's memorial service, Michelle Garcia, who is six months pregnant with the couple's first child, will receive a Bronze Star and Purple Heart on her husband's behalf.

"I'm just proud of everything he's done. He deserved it," she said quietly of the medals.

In his nearly three-year career with the Army, Garcia received several decorations. They are the Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Achievement Medal, said Leslie Kay, a spokeswoman with Fort Lewis, Wash., where Garcia was based.

Family members said the Queens native had always wanted to join the Army and was eager to enlist after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. They described him as brave, sincere and loving.

In 2004, Garcia graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas College with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He enlisted soon afterward.

Maria Narciso, Michelle Garcia's grandmother, said the soldier had a life planned for the couple.

"He wanted a family. He said that he would put up a nice home," Maria Narciso said.

Garcia lost both his parents as a teen. He was raised by his grandparents and was said to have wanted his children to grow up with a father.

Michelle Garcia, a hairstylist, is currently living with her parents in Valley Cottage. Her father is Clarkstown Fire Inspector Vincent Narciso.

"I'm very concerned," Donna Narciso said, "but me and my husband and Justin's grandparents, we're all there for her."

Besides support from her relatives, Michelle Garcia and her entire family have received a tremendous amount of support from the community.

"The town of Clarkstown is making us a Thanksgiving dinner," Donna Narciso said. "It's so amazing how people are coming out of the woodwork and showing love and appreciation."

[Guest]

Justin arrived home today in Valley Cottage with an escort from Local and State PD to the funeral home. His family appreciates the overwhelming support of the community and friends, and is very thankful to every person who has helped or wished well in any way.

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Funeral for a soldier

A funeral will be at 10 a.m. today at St. Paul's Church, 82 Lake Road, Congers.

Memorial donations may be sent to:

Michelle Garcia Fund

c/o Bank of New York

56 Lake Road

Congers, NY 10920