Posted on 10/29/2007 6:09:38 PM PDT by SandRat
10/29/2007 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- Hundreds of Airmen, Air Force civilians, and their family members lined both sides of the main street here Oct. 26 to pay their respects to a Soldier killed in Iraq.
U.S. Army Spc. Vincent A. Madero, 22, died Oct .17 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee.
Word spread quickly across the base that a warrior was making his final flight home. The crowd began lining up along the route that would take the Soldier's body off base.
When Specialist Madero's body arrived just before noon, members of his family were present to receive him. As the funeral procession slowly drove from the flightline, uniformed members saluted and civilians held hands over their hearts, showing respect for a fallen comrade.
The specialist was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
Makes me proud that San Antonio is my home town. Rest in peace, Spc. Madero.
Godspeed, Specialist Madero - may your family be blessed forever.
Makes me proud to be an Air Force Mom...
Looks like quite a few folks not in uniform are saluting as well. And that's OK, one need not be in uniform to salute a comrade. Most of those are probably retired "double dippers", or reservists/Guardsmen.
BTW, those are My Guys and Gals paying respects to a comrade from another service. (Although at upper right there appear to be at least one Navy type in a "wheel" hat, and several that are either Navy or Marines, wearing flight suits.)
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