Friends and family from coast to coast are mourning the loss of 28-year-old Anthony Messer, who died in Santa Cruz on the evening of December 2. Anthony was well known across California as a veteran of the U.S. military, a political activist, a traveler, and a generally friendly person who exuded positivity. Funeral services were held for him on December 9 in Chipley, Florida.

Anthony made a big splash in the Occupy movement after having first participated in Occupy Sacramento. After leaving Sacramento, he traveled to Santa Cruz in February of 2012 with a strong desire to revive the Occupy Santa Cruz occupation of the court house steps. Anthony embarked on a one person demonstration of that location dubbed "Re-Occupy," where he held teach-ins and attempted to maintain a 24/7 presence. During that occupation, Anthony created several political signs, and one read: "Cruel Broad Laws Are Not A Good Answer. Better Lighting, More Patrols, Real Shelter Solutions, Public Education + Real Deliberation."

Anthony actively organized events with Occupy Santa Cruz, and he contributed several articles to the OSC website. He produced a number of video blogs about his activism, and he developed websites that culled together his political experiences, along with many of his thoughts and ideas, and photos of demonstrations in which he participated. He also traveled to many of the larger Bay Area and Northern California events that occurred during the Occupy movement.

Read More with Photos | See Also: Vigil Held for Ed Frey, Community Members Call for End to the Ban on Sleep in Santa Cruz | Occupy Santa Cruz Marches to Protest Repression of the Occupy Movement | The City of Santa Cruz Wages Campaign Attacking Homeless Camps