Crystal Lake funeral honors fallen Marine

John Antonik could never forget the day he picked up his adopted son, Chris. On the train back home, he blurted out: "My son! My son! My son!" he recounted for friends and family members assembled Monday for his funeral.

Since then, they'd be best friends, sharing a love for the Blackhawks, participating in soccer camp at Judson College in Elgin.

John was in the military, and so it followed with Chris.

"Dad, I want to be a Marine," Chris told his dad when he was about 10.

On May 23, 2001, 20-year-old Chris attended Marine Corps boot camp, followed by infantry school. Promoted to staff sergeant in 2009, he was the recipient of a combat action ribbon and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. On July 11, Chris Antonik died while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.

During the Crystal Lake Marine's funeral on Monday, nine Marines carried his flag-draped casket into the Evangelical Free Church in Crystal Lake.

Brothers at arms spoke of him as a true leader.

Marine Staff Sgt. Robert Hilton spoke about his two years with Antonik. "If I had a dollar every time Chris asked me, 'Do you need some help?' I'd be a millionaire now."

A woman once asked if he and Chris were brothers. "I thought that's the nicest thing I've ever been asked." Hilton said.

"The only time I ever saw Chris visibly upset is when one of the men in his charge failed his standard during his mission and training or combat," he said.

Respected as a leader among the Marines, Chris remained the smiling boy his parents adopted.

John already prepared three topics for their father-and-son talk: the Blackhawks, the World Cup and fatherhood.

"I was going to talk to him about the things I did wrong as a daddy and the things I should have done because I'm a dad," he said.

A talk he'll never get a chance to have.

"Why, Chris?" he said. "Why, Chris?"

The Daily Herald is not running a photo of Chris Antonik at the request of the Marines.