CALGARY (CBC) - Mourners gathered Friday afternoon to remember a Calgary paramedic and reservist killed in Afghanistan last week.

More than 1,000 friends, family, and representatives from the city, emergency services and the military attended the service for Cpl. Michael Starker.

The funeral ceremony began at 2 p.m. MT at Centre Hall D in the Roundup Centre in Stampede Park.

The service, which is both a full Catholic mass and a full honours military funeral, was expected to last at least an hour and a half.

After the funeral, around approximately 3:30 p.m. MT, Starker's body will be transported in a draped City of Calgary ambulance along the city's "Route of Valour" to City Hall via 11th Avenue and Macleod Trail North. Then the recessional march will proceed up Centre Street to 16th Avenue North, where it will disperse.

More than 600 representatives from the Canadian Forces, Emergency Medical Services, Calgary police, Calgary fire department and other emergency services are expected to participate.

The public was encouraged to line the route.

"I think it's important for his family to know that Calgarians care and it's important for us to, I think, bond together as Canadians and say we care," said Tom Sampson, who is in charge of Calgary's ambulance service.

"In Calgary we talk about caring for the community. Mike was caring for the global community. He was an active medic on that unit when he was killed. It's a tragedy."

EMS plans to provide 3,000 small hand-held flags and 300 larger ones to supporters along the route, but also encourages people to bring their own.

Mayor Dave Bronconnier said the city would be honouring the "passing of a very fine young man."

Private interment

It's "very difficult when you're losing a fine Canadian soldier, more difficult when you're losing a valued employee, but of course, nothing more tragic than the loss of a family, and that's what we're here to celebrate," he said.

After the recessional march, family and invited guests only will attend a private interment at the Veteran's Field of Honour at Queen's Park Cemetery.

Memorials set up at EMS Headquarters and the City's Municipal Building will be taken down following the service, and the books of condolences from the memorials will be collected and presented to the family.

The family requested that donations in memory of Starker be directed to the Poppy Fund or EMS Samaratin's Purse Fund, Operation Christmas Child.

Starker, 36, was ambushed and killed May 6 while on foot patrol in the Pashmul region, outside Kandahar City. He had been providing medical assistance to fellow soldiers in Afghanistan since December as a reservist with the Alberta-based 15 Field Ambulance, his second tour of duty there.

Starker was the 83rd Canadian soldier and fourth Calgarian killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002.

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