Family Recalls Slain Palos Hills Marine’s Love For Country

PALOS HILLS, IL — Daniel Martinez, 23, a recently discharged Marine who was slain while visiting Boston over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, was remembered Thursday for his dedication to his county and love for his family.

After completing four years of military service, Martinez and a friend went to the Sons of Boston bar the night of March 19. Boston police said Martinez was slain by a bouncer at the bar when he wouldn’t let the pair back into the club. Alvaro Larrama, the 38-year-old bouncer, faces a first degree murder charge in connection with the Martinez’s death.

During a news conference at the family’s funeral home in Little Village, where they will bury their son and brother this weekend, the Martinez family thanked the community for its support.

>>> Family Of Marine Killed Outside Boston Bar Plans Civil Suit

“I’m just amazed by all the friends and family and complete strangers who have come up to us with their condolences,” Manuel Martinez, Daniel’s father, said. “Last Thursday, when we brought my son back from Boston here, we were just overwhelmed by all the support that we received.”

Martinez, who lived with his father in Palos Hills, was recalled as a young man full of plans. His father and brother, Matthew, spoke of Daniel’s plans to buy a home to live in with his brothers, and to enroll in film school at Columbia College this fall.

“When I dropped him off at the airport, one of our last conversations, he had just show a list of houses his realtor had sent,” Matthew Martinez said. “I said we’d take a look when he came back.”

Manuel Martinez spoke of a photo in another room at the family business, Martinez Funeral Home, of Daniel and his brother Matthew dressed as soldiers when they were five or six years old.

“As a very young child, all my boys, we had them enrolled in the Baptist Boys Battalion,” his father said. “They give them training, everything from tying knots and starting fires.”

In high school, Daniel would visit the Marine recruiter and started training for boot camp. While it was hard to say goodbye when he left for boot camp, they knew it was something he wanted to do.

“He loved this country,” Manual said. “This country even with its imperfections has been very good to our family and to all the generations who came before us and will continue after us.”

The Martinez family also announced plans to start a foundation in Daniel's name to continue the good works the family has enjoyed doing together over the years, such as going down to Wacker Drive to feed the homeless, and providing seniors with comfort and companionship.

“I would want my son’s life to be remembered so that it doesn’t end here,” his father said. “That’s what we would like to get out of his. To start a foundation in Daniel’s name and let his legacy continue.”

Thomas Flaws, a Boston attorney representing the Martinez family, said that once Daniel’s estate was settled, the family planned to file a civil lawsuit against the bar that employed the bouncer. Flaws called recent findings about the bar “troubling.”

“Since Daniel’s death, the Sons of Boston has lost its entertainment license,” Flaws said. “The City of Boston has alleged the bar allowed a man to staff the door with a weapon, without a license to do so. The city has alleged that after the stabbing, the bar did nothing to call for help for Daniel or catch the person who stabbed him. It has been reported the assailant had been allowed to re-enter the bar, clean blood off himself and escape through the back door. These shocking allegations warrant, actually demand, further investigation.”

Facing the most difficult two days of their lives – saying goodbye to and burying their son and brother – the Martinez family has asked to grieve in private with family, friends, and Daniel’s platoon who have flown to Chicago for scheduled services on Friday and Saturday.

Manual Martinez said his family believes in God and believes that one day they all be reunited with Daniel.

"Every loss is different," his father said. “I know because I’ve been in this funeral industry for 30 years, it never gets easy no matter what.”