Name: Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Geary

Age: 22

From: Rome, N.Y.

Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Incident: Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Geary died March 20 while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan.

Died: March 20, 2009

Funeral planned for Marine killed overseas

The Associated Press

ROME, N.Y. — A Marine corporal killed in combat Friday in Afghanistan was planning to marry his fiancee when he returned from his tour in May, his father said.

Funeral services for fallen Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel J. Geary of Rome will be held in St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, said his father, Michael Geary. Other details for the services were not yet available.

Rome Mayor James Brown said the city would provide a police escort and flags will be at half-staff the day of funeral.

The 22-year-old Marine planned to bring his fiancee, Rachel Patterson, from North Carolina to Rome and surprise her by marrying immediately instead of waiting, said the elder Geary.

Being a Marine was what Daniel Geary wanted to do, and that goal helped give him the drive to go back and complete high school after dropping out for a year, his father said....