The Associated Press

LONGMONT, Colo. — Longmont native, fallen sailor honored by thousands Gov. Bill Owens and Gov.-elect Bill Ritter were among an estimated 2,000 people at funeral services Saturday for Christopher "Doc" Anderson, a 24-year-old Longmont native and Navy medic killed in Iraq.

The Purple Heart awarded to Anderson was presented by Rear Adm. Brian Brannman, director of the Navy Medical Service Corps, to Anderson's father, a former Navy SEAL.

Anderson, a 2000 graduate of Longmont High School, was killed during combat in Iraq's Anbar province Dec. 4. During services at Grace Evangelical Church, his superior officers said Anderson threw himself into training, repeatedly requesting assignment to the front lines.

"Life without Christopher is very, very difficult," said Cmdr. David Copp, the head of Navy recruiting in the Denver area. "Christopher gave his life in defense of his nation, his Marine brothers, and his family."

Anderson enlisted in the Navy in August 2005. He was a medical corpsman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

About 500 people were in the audience in the church while hundreds more watched over closed-circuit TV. A slide show included pictures of Anderson and his younger brother, Kyle, in both serious and silly poses.

Kyle Anderson, tears in his eyes, told the audience what he had learned from his brother's sudden death.

"Go home and write that e-mail or send that letter or make that phone call that you should have done a long time ago," he said. "Take care of it now. Don't wait. Don't ever wait.

Friends and family said Anderson was someone people remembered.

"Christopher didn't like to do it half," said cousin Heather Green. "He did it all the way."

Anderson is the 36th armed services member with a Colorado hometown killed in Iraq, according to an Associated Press count.

Before the services, the streets around the church were lined by motorcycle riders, veterans, people from across the state and flags.

Afterward, Anderson received a 21-gun salute. A bugler played taps and the flag covering his casket was given to his family. Seven white doves were released and his body was carried by a horse-drawn caisson.

Anderson will be buried in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week, according to the Navy.