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Jose Ricardo Flores-Mejia
Jose Ricardo Flores-Mejia
US Army
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 Previous Gilberto A. Meza     Next 
  Gilberto A. Meza

Name: Army Cpl. Gilberto A. Meza


Age: 21
From: Oxnard, Calif.
Assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany
Incident: Army Cpl. Gilberto A. Meza died Oct. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit.
Died: October 06, 2007
'Everyone's soldier' buried in Oxnard

By John Scheibe (Contact)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

It was at once an intensely personal ceremony and one filled with ritual befitting someone killed in battle.

Gilberto Meza’s final journey began Tuesday morning as his casket was transported under police escort from the Camino del Sol Funeral Home in Oxnard a mile across town to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. A military honor guard took Meza’s casket into the cinder-block church as family and friends followed.

Meza’s funeral came 10 days after he was killed in Baghdad by an improvised explosive device. The 21-year-old corporal had been in Iraq for only about a month.

Meza, a member of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Squadron, became the fifth Oxnard resident and 17th from Ventura County to die in the Iraq war.

Once inside the church, Meza’s family and friends had a traditional funeral service, one filled with prayers for him and for those he left behind. After the service, Meza’s body was taken for burial to Santa Clara Cemetery on the north end of town.

Cristina Zavala, a longtime friend, told the crowd of several hundred people gathered at the cemetery that Meza often talked about his wishes should he die young.

“He always said we shouldn’t worry about him,” Zavala said. While Meza said he would miss his family, he did not want a lot of tears and sorrow at his funeral.

“He always said he would rather die with honor on the battlefield than die on a street somewhere here,” she said.

Zavala, 21, said Meza was everyone’s soldier, even before he joined the Army some two years ago.

“He was the kind of person who always wanted to make sure you were OK,” said Zavala, who first met Meza when the two were about 10 years old. Over the years, they developed a deep friendship, becoming what Zavala called “soul mates.”

Zavala feared for Meza’s safety when he told her he was going to join the Army. But Zavala and some other friends said they were unable to talk him out of joining.

“It was something he really wanted to do, both for himself and as a way to make his family proud,” Zavala said.

Zavala recalled how eager Meza seemed to go to Iraq when she last saw him at Los Angeles International Airport in late July.

“He felt he had a duty to go over there and a job to do,” she said.

In many ways, Meza seemed to blossom after he joined the Army, she said. The military instilled discipline in him and gave him a better sense of himself as a man. “For him, it was a career,” she said.

Meza’s brother, Rigoberto, said Meza was his hero.

“I looked up to him even though he was my younger brother,” he said.

Uncle Juan Martinez said some people may be born alone and die alone — but not his nephew.

“He was born into a very loving family,” Martinez told the crowd. Even in death, his nephew was surrounded by those who cared deeply about him, Martinez said.

Mike Solorio, a friend of Meza’s and a member of the local band Hostile, paid tribute to his friend, singing one of Meza’s favorite songs. “Life, it seems, will fade away,” Solorio sang from “Fade to Black,” a song originally recorded by the heavy-metal band Metallica.

“We honor a son of this great nation, who offered his life for our liberty, our hopes and our dreams,” said Fidel Ramirez, a Santa Clara parish deacon.

Meza was awarded a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart by President Bush.

Meza’s family placed handfuls of dirt and flowers on top of his coffin before it was lowered into the ground.

“Save me the place in heaven that you said you would,” Zavala said as she looked at the closed silver casket.

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Prayers & Condolences For:
Gilberto A. Meza
BY Anonymous on Aug 29, 2014
  Never forgotten brother.
 

MEMBER OFFLINE _USERINFO send private message to
Prayers & Condolences For:
Gilberto A. Meza
BY miyembro on May 18, 2008
  Your sacrifice will remain in our hearts for a lifetime,

with intense gratitude. May God bless you and your family.

Rest Safely and Securely in God's Loving Arms.

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heros never dies.
 


Prayers & Condolences For:
Gilberto A. Meza
BY Anonymous on Nov 29, 2007
  i will miss you old friend, we had some good times together. thanks for all you did. i will always rember you.

HIDALGO


 


Prayers & Condolences For:
Gilberto A. Meza
BY Anonymous on Oct 17, 2007
  My Condolences to you. I am also a resident of Oxnard, CA and Meza will be very missed in our beautiful city. I know he fought for our freedom and to that I want to say THANK YOU to HIM and HIS FAMILY for their sacrifice.

May God Bless You Always.

THANK YOU
 


Prayers & Condolences For:
Gilberto A. Meza
BY Anonymous on Oct 15, 2007
  R.I.P
 


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Wall Of Prayers
Wall Of Prayers



Jose Ricardo Flores-Mejia

It's been 20 years since your passing... However, I never forgotten the day you told me I am married, I am going to have a baby, and day your son was born... You touched some many lives in different ways in your brief time on this earth in ways others can't imagine... Some people can be given a life time on this earth and accomplish nothing, and there are some people who are given a short time and accomplish so much... You Mr. Flores-Mejia aka Ricky was that person and soldier who accomplish so much in your shoft tme... As I see the days pass by, and the war seems to be a distant memory, your memory is still alive in my life, and still on this and like other days with my grandchildren I sit back like we did many times and listen to those West Coast oldies... "Never Forgotten"


Frank E. Adamski III

To the family of Frank Adamski, including his wife and daughter, my sincere condolences. I plan to make sure he is never forgotten.


Benjamin Walker

🕯️


Trevor B. Adkins

If I could go back in time I would begg you not to go I miss you so much the girls do to they talk about you all the time lots of love your sister


Adam D. Jones

Happy Birthday, Adam. You are missed so much every minute of everyday! XOXO ~143~ You will forever be in my heart and on my mind. Love always, Tammy


Laurie Cobb

She was my 3rd and 5th grade teacher. Today I'm 32 and still think about her. She was the best teacher ever. From her hair children stories to her bubbly happiness and kindness she spread. I'll never forget her. She was the teacher who had lunch with the kids in her classroom so everyone had someone to be with. She made my school experience amazing. I will never forget her.. I love you Mrs. Cobb. Sincerely, Forever in my thoughts, Alyssa (Viau) Capone


Larry E Polley Jr

SPC Polley died almost two decades ago so I don't know if this message will be seen. In honor of Memorial Day, my agency hands out cards with names of those who have fallen. This year, 2023, I received the card for SPC Polley and was inspired to look up more on him. I am thankful for his service and sacrifice. My condolences to his family. He is not forgotten.


Paul C. Holter III

Miss you brother


Alex D Gonzalez

Love you and miss you always. Since you been gone it has been hard for everyone. I know you loved what you did, and I want to thank you for our freedom. If I can have you back home and safe living your life man everything would be different. No matter how much money they would offer me I would rather have you alive and home. Money comes and go so it's not worth losing you.


Christopher D Young

hello my name is Jesus Vega I would like to give my condolences to Christopher's family and friends, I served with him in Iraq and slept in the same quarters. I have many fond memories of him. I have never forgotten his sacrifice. I would like to share that the greatest memory I had of Chris is that he would speak highly of his mom and how much she meant to him. Chris was a strong minded person and looked out for other. He was kind and friendly the he made friends with everyone. Chris was truly a great man! I sincerely apologize for not sharing sooner. but would like to express that Chris's memory will never be forgotten! though he is not with us he will always be in spirit! If this message gets to Christopher's mother I she could know she raised a great man and for that I thank you.


Jose E Ulloa

Ricky you are still in your family's hearts.


John Michael Roy Curwin

I'm doing a work assignment for school and think he should be included.


Derek L. Shanfield

Heartfelt Sympathy on the loss of your son - Semper Fi.


Marisol Heredia

Dear Marisol, You are Loved Forever...Jeff


John Charles Jenkins

In hope for your soul to be safe and in peace forever, God hold you in your wings! Amen


Todd Beamer

Your courage exceeds the unimaginable.


Steven Paul Chucknick

peace be with you


Geoffrey Perez

thank you for being in our lives, you i got to see you right before you left and i feel so blessed for tour ultimate sacrifice brother. Rest in paradise


Linda Jones

Praying for peace and serenity. God bless you as you travel this difficult path.


Kristopher J. Gould

Miss you everyday buddy. Look forward to seeing you again, one day.


Kristopher J. Gould

Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice, Kris. You are missed.


Deora Bodley

rest in peace


James David Parker

I knew James David Parker as "Dave" when he lived in Solon Ohio. We met when I moved into town from out of state. He and his group of friends were a year or two older than me. Dave was a bright beacon of hope and joy to me. I was an unsure young man in a strange place. Dave introduced me to many people and ensured his friends always saved me a seat in the lunchroom. I have fond memories of him and his friends during that time. I doubt so many people would have been as wonderful toward me without Dave's incredible kindness. I've never forgotten his kindness. I hope to be able to pay it forward someday.

Wall Of Prayers


 For Jose Ricardo Flores-Mejia   For Frank E. Adamski III   For Benjamin Walker   For Trevor B. Adkins   For Adam D. Jones   For Laurie Cobb   For Larry E Polley Jr   For Paul C. Holter III   For Alex D Gonzalez   For Christopher D Young   For Jose E Ulloa   For John Michael Roy Curwin   For Derek L. Shanfield   For Marisol Heredia   For John Charles Jenkins   For Todd Beamer   For Steven Paul Chucknick   For Geoffrey Perez   For Linda Jones   For Kristopher J. Gould  
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