COEUR d'ALENE - According to close friends and commanding officers, Sgt. Nathan Beyers and Spc. Nicholas Newby, the two young soldiers who died in Baghdad on July 7, were the very best of men.

"These two individuals are loved by so many," said Brig. Gen. Alan Gayhart, commander of the Idaho Army National Guard. "They were our teammates, our friends, our brothers-in-arms, and part of our family."

Gayhart and several National Guardsmen spoke to a large audience on Saturday afternoon. Family members, friends, soldiers and local residents had gathered at Lake City Community Church for a memorial service, and the building was nearly full.

Beyers and Newby - both from Coeur d'Alene and soldiers with the 145th Brigade Support Battallion of the 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team - were remembered and honored.

"They never quit, no matter how difficult the challenge," Gayhart said.

Sgt. Joseph Rozewicz had worked alongside the 24-year-old Beyers. He recalled a good-natured man who was truly dedicated to his family.

"He never wanted to be on anyone's bad side. He was always a happy kid," Rozewicz said of Beyers. "I loved hanging out with him. He had the biggest heart. He loved his family so much."

Newby, too, was a very friendly young man, said Spec. Tristan Nielsen. The 20-year-old was an extremely motivated soldier and a hard worker.

"He was just going, going, going," Nielsen said. "He was a very dedicated person. It was an honor to be his friend."

Photographs of the two men appeared on projection screens. Some pictures were snapped years ago; others showed a happy scene from their Army lives.

The soldiers' biographies were read aloud, their awards mentioned.

Chaplain (Maj.) Robert Morris of the 145th Battalion asked the crowd to follow three steps: Remember the soldiers' story, receive comfort through faith in God, and respond to the loss with "a warrior's spirit."

"Nate and Nick lived the Army values, and believed in the warrior ethos," Morris said. "Let us honor their lives by living our lives to the fullest, and work to make the world a better place."

A bagpipe serenade and the somber sound of "Taps" signaled the end of the service. The Idaho Army National Guard Honor Guard retired the colors, and uniformed soldiers performed a final salute.

"I thought it was beautiful," said Betsy Kelley of Coeur d'Alene, a close friend of Beyers' wife, Vanessa. "It was very full. There was a lot of support from the community."

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, a former National Guardsmen, was in attendance on Saturday.

The 116th is now deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. Beyers and Newby were killed by an improvised explosive device when their vehicle convoy was attacked by insurgent forces outside Victory Base Camp.

Funeral services for both men will take place today. The 116th is scheduled to return to the United States in September.

"What did happen, is Nick and Nate, they did their job," Morris said Saturday. "They did their duty. A challenge was before them, and they met it. Those two, in their sacrifice, have brought freedom to our country."

Staff Sgt. Jason Rzepa, from the Coeur d'Alene area, who was severely wounded during the convoy attack, is now recovering at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. His legs were amputated below the knees.

A friend of the Rzepa family has established a donation account at Wells Fargo. Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo location.