A COMMUNITY PAYS TRIBUTE TO A HOMETOWN HERO

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“I know why Leon was the kind of person that he was. His entire family is like that. They are the nicest people anyone could ever know,” Shari Wagoner said. “They are one big loving family and they care about everyone. That explains why Leon was like he was.”

Quote from: " Jamestown ‘family' mourns lost son " By Ra'Vae Edwards Posted: Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 01:02:18 - WWW.NEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Memorial Built at Moniteau C-1 School in Jamestown

From left Jeff Gerlach, Josh Ennis and Brandon Cook prepare Deraps’ memorial in Jamestown. (Ed Pfueller photo) - WWW.SHOWMENEWS.COM

" Leon Deraps Our Fallen Hero "

We Gather Young and Old ...

From right, Mary Amos, Eula Clark and Irene Pace, wait for the procession carrying young Marine Lance Cpl. Leon Deraps, to come through his hometown of Jamestown. (Julie Smith/News Tribune photo) - WWW.NEWSTRIBUNE.COM

" LCPL Leon Deraps We Salute You "

At C-I School in Jamestown. Leon graduated in May of 2005.

" L D 5 BERT "

Leon participated in many sports at Moniteau C-1 School in Jamestown including: baseball, basketball, track and field. He was voted Prom King his senior year, 2005. In left field at the school’s baseball diamond, friends Jake Campbell and Jeff Gerlach erected a piece of plywood, painted blue, with silver-lined white characters reading, "LD 5 Bert."

Left, Jackie Price, Katy Nivens, Stacia Wolfe and Amy Ashley all former schoolmates of Leon Deraps at Jamestown School wait at about 1:00 a.m. for a procession carrying the body of Deraps to pass by Jamestown on Highway 179. Ed Pfueller photo - WWW.SHOWMENEWS.COM

" In Loving Memory of USMC Lance Cpl Leon Deraps "

" In Loving Memory of Leon Deraps. Jamestown Eagles #5 'Bert' "

" In Loving Memory of USMC Lance Corporal Leon Deraps 11-13-1986--05-06-2006 "

In and around Jamestown are messages, signs, flags and ribbons to show support for fallen marine, Lance Cpl. Leon Deraps. (Julie Smith/News Tribune) - WWW.NEWSTRIBUNE.COM

" A Fallen Hero 1986 - 2006 "

A friend or family member has a handwritten memorial to Lance Cpl. Leon Deraps in their car's back window. (Julie Smith/News Tribune) - WWW.NEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Jackie Price, who graduated with Lance Cpl. Leon Deraps, paints a sentiment on her car window as she waits for the procession carrying her late friend's body to Jamestown School for visitation. When asked about her emotions, she replied that she and her friends are "just in a state of shock." (Julie Smith/News Tribune photo) - WWW.NEWSTRIBUNE.COM

Mourners hold vigil along the procession route in downtown Jamestown early Tuesday morning while waiting for the procession of Lance Corporal Leon Deraps, which passed through just before 2AM. The route was lined with signs, candles, flags and friends as he was brought through town on the way to a funeral home in California, Missouri. Jeff Douglas photo - WWW.SHOWMENEWS.COM

Townspeople wait on Highway 179 in Jamestown moments before a procession carrying the body of local marine Lance Corporal Leon Deraps drives through town on its way to a funeral home in California at about 1:50 a.m. Ed Pfueller photo - WWW.SHOWMENEWS.COM