‘He saved my life:’ Fort Myers Marine honored at vigil

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A community has gathered for a vigil at the high school of a local Marine who vanished after a helicopter crash in Hawaii.

The U.S. Coast Guard called off the search for Cpl. Thomas “Tommy” Jardas and 11 other Marines Tuesday after crews failed to find any signs of life.

On Thursday, friends, families and supporters followed up word from the Coast Guard with a memorial service for Jardas at Cypress Lake High School. They said they wanted to remember Jardas for who he was even before his service to the country.

The memory of Jardas is close to one Fort Myers woman who knew Jardas when they attend Cypress Lake and helped organize the vigil. Savanna Reid said Jardas, nicknamed Tommy, changed her life.

“Tommy talked me out of suicide,” Reid said. “So I did this for him because he saved my life and I owe him the world. I wanted everyone to know that he was a hero and he was just an amazing person.”

Another of Jardas’ friends said was able to reach people his kindness and compassion.

“One thing that I really hold and cherish the most about him was he was that one person you wanted to be your best friend. You wanted to know Tommy because he was so passionate. He was so caring and he was so nice,” friend Eden Shelton said.

The vigil to honor Jardas will be marked by a helicopter flyover coordinated by Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott who personally called the one of the organizers. Shelton said she appreciates the gesture since Jardas was so enthusiastic about aircraft and his service to the U.S. Military.

“He was always talking about the Marine Corps. Always talking about his love for helicopters, love for his country and to have the helicopters there would be incredible,” she said.