A 38-year old army reservist from Tehachapi became the first person laid to rest in a casket at the Bakersfield National Cemetery Thursday morning.
Major Jason George was killed in May near Baghdad by an improvised explosive device.
"Jason was just a wonderful, wonderful person," said his friend Cecilia Willcut.
A host of titles pops up when friends and family describe Major George. They include leader, scholar, and soldier.
But to his friends and family, Major Jason George was so much more.
"He was many things to many people," said George's brother Mike Mason. "He had a remarkable ability to reach out to people. I have several people say I thought he was my only friend."
High school friend Jay Wells also has fond memories. "They said he was the glue that held everybody together and that's true," said Wells. "There were over 600 of us that held together over the last 20 years."
Dozens of those friends turned out for Thursday's solemn ceremony, accompanied by the patriot riders.
Major Jason George is the first to be buried with the full military honors of a flag-draped casket and 7-rifle volley at the new Bakersfield National Cemetery near Caliente.
George's tombstone will be joined by dozens more in the coming weeks.
Markers for fellow fallen military members from around the state.
"He deserves that honor and this is a very nice cemetery that they made something for our troops," said one friend.
Now, not far from where he grew up kicking field goals for his high school football team, Major George has a new home.
Major George's family received a purple heart, bronze star and several other military service medals on his behalf.
