HUGE funeral in Tenn. for 21 y/o soldier

[kurth]

Scott County Welcomes Home Fallen Soldier

Huntsville, TN - The first soldier from Scott County to give his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom has returned home. Funeral services for the fallen soldier are set for Friday. The body of Cpl. Rusty L. Washam, the son of Sonny and Beverly Washam of the Straight Fork community, has been returned to Scott County, having been flown from Dover Air Force Base in Dover, DE to McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville late Tuesday evening.

Washam was given a hero’s return by the community, as more than a hundred people made the trek to Knoxville to receive the fallen soldier. From the Scott/Campbell County line to Huntsville, hundreds of people lined the edge of Baker Highway around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night to watch the white hearse transporting his body bring him home. Many of those along the highway corridor held candles and American flags, while others saluted and sang. The motorcade from the airport to Huntsville began with less than a dozen cars, including a school bus loaded with family and friends. Once inside the county, the caravan quickly grew, becoming a two-mile long procession that represented a broad spectrum of the county population. Scott County Sheriff Jim Carson, who led the procession, was followed by dozens of officers from his department, the Oneida Police Department and Tennessee Highway Patrol, along with members of the East 63 Fire Department, Huntsville Fire Department and Scott County Ambulance Service. The Patriot Guard, a motorcycle club that honors fallen soldiers, also participated. Once the motorcade passed, many of the citizens along the highway, some who never knew the fallen Marine, also joined the procession....

More than 1300 people filed through Four Oaks Funeral Home in Huntsville on Thursday for Cpl. Washam public visitation, paying respects to Washam’s family and honoring Scott County’s fallen son. Earlier in the day, more than 400 children at Fairview Elementary School, where Cpl. Washam attended primary school, paid tribute to the fallen soldier, releasing balloons in his honor in a special flagpole ceremony... In honor of Cpl. Washam’s memory and to allow people to attend his funeral services today, several county and city offices are closed. According to Scott County Mayor Rick Keeton, the Scott County Courthouse and Scott County Office Building will be closed today, along with several other offices... In addition to those county offices, the Towns of Huntsville and Oneida will be closed, along with Citizens Gas Utility District...

http://www.hive105.com/

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FWIW - Scott County, Tenn. is an impoverished area in the Appalachians with much natural beauty, but where dental care is still a luxury. Lots of "JESUS IS COMING - R U READY?" signs along the highway. Howard Baker lives there.

[coffeenap]

1. Even arrving at 10:30 pm didn't keep the people away.

The cover of night isn't working any more.

[niallmac]

2. I trust Phelps and Co. know enough to stay the hell away.?

[babylonsister]

3. Makes me wonder if Phelps chooses his fights; he wouldn't

get too far in Scott County, TN, I'm thinking.
May Cpl. Washam rest in peace.

[Olney Blue]

4. This story made me cry.

RIP, Cpl. Rusty L. Washam


Each soldier killed in this war is leaving a legacy of pain for the family and friends.

:cry:

[standup]

6. Me too - A very moving account - thanks

[Olney Blue]

7. Welcome to DU, standup.

We need you.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. I cried as I read this

and realized how much pain there is from the deaths in this illegal and immoral war. I trust any Phelps maniacs were stifled-I could see any number of country preachers railing against them and any demonstration they tried to make.