Then, in a star-spangled cemetery, Pfc. Daniel G. Dolan was buried, his sacrifice honored with a silent roll call, a rifle salute and a bugle rendition of "Taps."

Family members wept. A bagpiper played "Amazing Grace." Rain trickled from the sky.

Hundreds gathered in the city cemetery before noon to pay tribute to the Utah soldier, who died last month on a Baghdad street.

Dolan, 19, was shot on Aug. 27 while trying to tip up an armored personnel carrier that was blown over by a roadside bomb. Dolan had served in Iraq just three months.

"Clearly, he was a patriot," said Air Force Major Royce Beal. "No patriot has given more."

Brig. Gen. Walter L. Davis awarded the fallen soldier a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and combat infantry badge for his service overseas.

Although six in 10 Americans now oppose the war in Iraq, the soldier's mother said her son's death hasn't shaken her faith in country or in the war.

"I will stand behind what my son believes in no matter what," said Fay Dolan. "He was proud to serve his county and there is no way we can be anything but proud."

Standing along the cemetery perimeter - outlined with more than 100 American flags - Allen Ermer watched the grieving family lay their child to rest.

The Vietnam veteran had never met Dolan. But he said he would support his fellow soldier with the respect that his comrades never received when the returned home.

"We are making up for it with these guys," he said. "He gave his life for his country. We can't do enough to honor him."

Dozens of leather-clad motorcyclists rumbled into the cemetery about 10:30 a.m., flags fluttering from their Harley Davidsons. They stood side-by-side at the cemetery entrance - some with red, white and blue bandanas, others with flag-printed jackets - to honor the soldier and ward off a rumored protest that never materialized.

Knight of Columbus members escorted the casket, uniformed in feathered caps, swords and capes of white, yellow and red.

Jan Oleson, a retired school teacher, has frequented the cemetery to visit the graves of two former students. Now she will visit three.

Oleson remembers Dolan when he was just an eager-to-please redhead in her second-grade class at Midland Elementary in Roy. He always finished his homework and showed teachers "nothing but respect," she said.

The teacher's eyes grew misty as she spoke of plans to place a flower on Dolan's grave for his birthday and other special occasions, just as she has done for her other pupils. She said Dolan's death brings sorrow but also pride.

"This is typical of Dan, "she said. "He was the kind of man who would give his life for his country."

Dolan became the fourth Utahn to die in combat this year and the 28th to die in Iraq since the war started in March 2003. To date, the war has claimed the lives of 2,666 American military personnel.

jstettler@sltrib.com