PHOTO GALLERY: Justin Whitmire, A Soldier and Friend Laid to Rest

It is said that one finds out who one's friends truly are during a time of crisis. If that is the case the family of Justin Whitmire found out today that they have thousands of friends, most of whom they probably have not even met.

Pfc. Whitmire was killed in Afghanistan last month. His body was returned to his family on Friday and on Saturday he was honored with a funeral service at First Baptist Church in Simpsonville and a stirring burial ceremony at Cannon Memorial Park in Fountain Inn.

Firefighters, police officers, fellow soldiers and thousands of motorcyclists came to bid farewell to the 20-year-old Whitmire.

Mandy Splawn of Greenville, who rode with the Patriot Guard Riders said, "Seeing all of the people waving American flags in honor of Justin Whitmire brought a sense of pride and the realism that we are still a nation at war."

The hate group from Westboro Baptist Church had threatened to hold a protest at the proceeding, but their appearance could not be confirmed.