Sgt. Garrett McLead

Last week I posted an item about a young soldier who had been killed in a helicopter crash in Iraq. That soldier, Sgt. Garrett McLead, was the son of friends of mine from Rockport, TX. His parents, Patrick and Patti McLead, have been part of the Rockport Gospel Music Festival that my quartet has performed at every year since 1999.

Yesterday Sgt. McLead's body was returned to Rockport. One of the many good friends from Rockport that I've gotten to know over the years, Commander Gary Howard with the Rockport Police Department, was part of the motorcade that brought Garrett's body from the Corpus Christi airport back to the funeral home in Aransas Pass. He sent along some pictures that I'd like to share with you.

Garrett was returned to Corpus Christi in a chartered bizjet accompanied by Jason Hill, a Marine stationed here in California and a former high school classmate of Garrett's. In this photo the Marine salutes his fallen friend as the flag-draped casket is removed from the jet.

The citizens of the Coastal Bend area were invited to line the motorcade route and show their support by waving American flags. According to Gary, despite the rainy skies, thousands did just that.

At one overpass a fire department ladder truck raises the American flag high in the sky as wellwishers line the bridge.

Upon arrival at the funeral home, the honor guard prepares to receive the casket.

What a wonderful tribute to a fallen hero. Although they pain must be terrible, Patrick and Patti must also feel extreme pride in their son Garrett. The funeral will be Saturday, 10am at First Baptist Church in Rockport, a sanctuary I've sung in many times.

It will never be quite the same.

UPDATE: Here's the Rockport Pilot's account of the motorcade.

UPDATE 2: A report on the funeral service.