BARTON, Vt. (AP) – The war in Iraq ended for Jesse Strong Friday, in the gymnasium of the local high school amid stories of his sense of humor and love for his God and his family.

About 1,000 people packed the gym at Lake Region Union High School nine days after the 24-year-old Marine sergeant was killed in a roadside attack in Iraq.

Strong went to war as a Marine reservist with his faith in God at the center of his life.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, a nationally recognized Christian minister and television evangelist who is chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., from where Strong graduated in 2003, said the young Marine touched many in his short life.

“The fact is God raised him up to do big things in a short time,” said Falwell, who flew to Vermont Friday to lead the funeral service. “It was appropriate for him to flame out so quickly.”

Strong grew up in the nearby town of Albany, where he was home-schooled. His father is the local Methodist minister. Strong joined the Marine reserves in 2001 before the attacks on the United States. Friends and relatives said he chose the Marines because it was the hardest thing to do.

He had attended one semester of seminary before his unit was activated. He arrived in Iraq in August and had been due to come home in March.

Strong was one of four Marines killed when the vehicle they were in was attacked in Anbar Province.

Strong was the 14th service member with Vermont ties killed in action in Iraq. A 15th service member died of natural causes in Kuwait before entering Iraq.

Strong joined the Marine reserves while studying biology and history at Liberty University. He also served as a prayer leader for fellow students at the religious school, mentoring a group of five fellow students before moving on to serve as spiritual life developer for an entire dormitory floor.