By Staff
Staff report
More than 50 mourners gathered in front of the Escambia County Courthouse Thursday afternoon to pay tribute to Marine Cpl. Christopher David Winchester as his funeral cortege passed.
Cloudy skies punctuated the somberness of the occasion honoring the 23-year-old Marine who died July 14 in Iraq.
The county commission declared July 28 as a special day of mourning for the Winchester family. Mourners gathered at the courthouse ceremony pledged allegiance to the flag, sang the National Anthem and bowed their heads for prayer. Dietrich Bondurant performed "Taps," while Dusty Rhodes lowered the flag to half-staff.
Mourners lined the street in front of the Veteran's Memorial on the courthouse grounds as the funeral procession passed, en route to Weaver's Cemetery for graveside services and internment.