RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) – A Vermont National Guard soldier killed in Iraq will be laid to rest on Friday.

The funeral for Sgt. 1st Class Chris S. Chapin, of Proctor, will take place at 10 a.m. at the Grace Congregational Church in Rutland.

The funeral will be followed by burial at Evergreen Cemetery with full military honors.

Chapin was killed by a sniper Aug. 23 near Ramadi, Iraq. He was 39.

Chapin grew up in Chittenden and graduated from Proctor High School in 1984. He was living in Proctor with his wife, Paula Smith Chapin, at the time of his mobilization. He was the second person from Proctor killed in the war.

Gov. James Douglas plans to attend the funeral as well as Maj. Gen. Martha Rainville, head of the Vermont National Guard, and a large contingent of Guardsmen.

Flags in Proctor were lowered to half-staff Wednesday after the news of Chapin’s death. Around the area, others are remembering him in their own ways.

At the Rutland Regional Medical Center, where Chapin had worked as a security guard, a shrine has been set up in the food court. Hospital employee Terry Bruce, who did not know Chapin, said the hospital needed to do something for Chapin’s family and friends who work at the hospital, including his wife and mother.

At Proctor High School, Principal Christopher Sousa said he has been contacted by other members of the class of 1984 who said they plan to arrange some sort of memorial for Chapin.

Chapin was the fourth Vermont National Guard soldier to be killed in action in Iraq. A fifth guardsman died on natural causes in Kuwait while waiting to enter Iraq. Overall, 17 service members with Vermont connections have died in support of the war in Iraq.

Information from: Rutland Herald, http://www.rutlandherald.com/