AUBURN - Only the ringing of a bell at Auburn's City Hall broke the silence as several hundred people lined up along South Street to honor U.S. Army Pfc. Patrick A. Devoe II, whose body was being taken to a private military burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Owasco Monday morning.

The flashing lights of the police motorcade signaled the arrival of the funeral procession, which paused in front of city hall at 11:46 a.m.

A color guard unit stood at attention while military veterans saluted Devoe's body and civilians held their hands over their hearts as a sign of respect.

Even though she did not know Devoe, Lori Matson, of Auburn, wiped away tears from under her glasses as she realized how his death has affected her life.

“My son is in boot camp right now and it's just awful, it breaks your heart,” Matson said as she held a small American flag. “I think it's very un-American if this doesn't touch you.”

Devoe, 27, was killed on patrol during his second week in Kandau Kalay, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device on March 8. Devoe was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Airborne, 25th Infantry Division, from Fort Richardson, Alaska.

Two large American flags, one suspended between two Auburn Fire Department ladder trucks over the intersection of Genesee and South streets, and a second, which hung in front of the pillars at city hall, were on display to honor the sacrifice Devoe made for his county.

For some veterans such as Jean Garropy, of Auburn, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, Devoe's death was a reminder not only of the tragic cost of war, but also of the improved reception that today's soldiers receive compared with those from his generation.

“I am here to honor a fallen soldier,” said Garropy, as tears rolled down his face. “Having someone die in your arms, the pain is just too bad that I just can't talk about it. It makes me feel great to see the community like this. It wasn't like this 40 years ago.”

Coming from a war where returning soldiers sneaked back into the country to avoid the public's scorn, Bob Jorolemon, another U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, said he was glad that the community now lines the street to show their support and to share their feelings with Devoe's family.

“We are here to honor a fallen soldier who didn't come back home,” Jorolemon said. “(Devoe) gave all there was to give and he deserves this much. Everybody deserves it, especially if they have given their life for their country.”

Some visitors lining the street, such as Donna Cannizzo, were taking a break from their daily routine to show their respect.

While Cannizzo never met Devoe, she said she was still proud of him and all of the other men and women serving in the U.S. military.

“I wouldn't be anywhere else,” Cannizzo said. “I was going to go shopping but that can wait, this is much more important. I had to be here to pay my respects. It breaks my heart every time we lose a soldier.”

Devoe is the second local man to lose his life in the past six months while serving in Afghanistan. Sgt. Jerome C. Bell Jr., 29, of the U.S. Marine Corps, was killed in combat in Afghanistan when his convoy was attacked last September. Bell and Devoe were both graduates from Dana West Junior-Senior High School in Port Byron.

Matson, who also attended the funeral procession for Bell, said it was important for him to show his support for both families.

“The community has got to do this; it has got to support its soldiers,” he said.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net