MOULTRIE — Lewis Hill Amphitheater was overflowing as many in Colquitt County turned out Saturday evening to remember one of their own.

A celebration of life service was held for Sgt. Steve McCoy, a Moultrie native who died June 10, from injuries he sustained while serving in Iraq. He was injured March 23 by a roadside bomb and was being treated in San Antonio, Texas, when he died.

The Rev. Jeff Brady welcomed everyone to the service and said it was to honor McCoy and to celebrate his life. He said McCoy served his country well and paid the ultimate sacrifice to help protect America’s freedom.

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss said the service was to honor the life of an American patriot. He urged those in attendance to remember McCoy and all of the other soldiers whose names were on the memorial on the square.

Unlike all of the other soldiers whose names are on the wall, Chambliss said McCoy joined the U.S. Army because he wanted to enlist. He stood for everything that is good in America, the things Americans are willing to fight for.

“From Yorktown to Normandy and now Baghdad,” Chambliss said, “America is willing to stand up for what is good.”

Colquitt County ROTC Commander Lt. Col. Paul Nagy said he taught McCoy as a student for four years in the ROTC program. From the first day McCoy walked into the ROTC classroom, he understood what it meant to be a solider.

In McCoy’s time in ROTC, Nagy said he was a leader, was honest and straightforward with everyone and took care of others above himself. As a member of the marksmanship team, McCoy was dedicated to service, he said. So dedicated, Nagy recalled, he rode a bicycle from Norman Park to a team practice scheduled during Christmas break and rode it all the way back home.

“McCoy was dedicated,” Nagy said, “he was skilled and he had the innate ethos to be a soldier.”

McCoy was also one of those people who had the ability to blend humor and seriousness, Nagy said. He always had a smile on his face no matter what the task ahead of him or situation, and he was one of those people who stood out above everyone else.

“I have been blessed to lead a lot of good, outstanding kids,” Nagy said, “but Steve was unique. He was doing what he wanted to do. He was doing what God put him here to do.”

Nagy said the courthouse square was the perfect setting to show what America is all about and how to honor McCoy. The rule of law, free trade and freedom in general found on the square show what makes America great, he said, and he challenged the audience with a way to honor McCoy.

“Ask yourself,” Nagy said, “do I cherish what I have? If you answer, ‘yes, I do,’ then you honor Steve. Sgt. McCoy was a very honorable man.”

Gunnery Sgt. Emmett Bryant from the Colquitt County ROTC program said he was touched and honored to be a part of the service. He said McCoy was a great man who was well loved and was as much a friend as he was a student.

“He was a great man,” Bryant said. “Everyone who knew him loved him. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for us so that we can be here today.”