The Eastern Illinois University ROTC salute the procession of 1st Lt. Jared Southworth as it passed by Old Main Thursday morning. Southworth was killed Feb. 8 in Afghanistan. (Erin Matheny/The Daily Eastern News)
A soldier journeys home
By: Kristina Peters and Matt Hopf / Staff report
Posted: 2/20/09
The plane carrying 1st Lt. Jared Southworth's body arrived at 9:50 a.m. Thursday at the Coles County Memorial Airport for a military service with his family.
Southworth, 26, was killed Feb. 8 in Afghanistan while serving in the Illinois National Guard.
Awaiting the arrival of Southworth's body were personnel from the Mattoon, Charleston, Ashmore, Kansas and Lincoln Fire Departments as well as members of the local Veterans of Foreign War and the Mid East Illinois Patriot Guard Riders.
Many community members along with State and local police also withstood the cold to show their respects at the airport.
Bill Hay, Senior Ride Captain of the Mid East Illinois Patriot Guard Riders and Charleston resident, helped coordinate a flag line for the ceremony at the airport.
"We do what we do as a matter of respect for the military," Hay said.
Hay said it does not matter what everyone's political views are or their view of the war; the only thing that matters is supporting the military and their families.
Six Army personnel carried the casket from the plane to the hearse, while the flag line stood on both sides of the hearse holding the American flag.
Hay and other members of the Mid East Illinois Patriot Guard Riders, some of which were from Champaign and Effingham, also participated in the procession that followed the airport ceremony. Some rode motorcycles and others drove in vehicles.
"(Patriot Guard Riders) don't have to be a veteran or ride a motorcycle…it is just the love of our country," Hay said.
Hay said there are about 160,000 members of the Patriot Guard Riders nationwide, of which about 6,000 are in Illinois.
The procession slowly passed campus on its way to Oakland. About 300 people lined up in front of Old Main to pay respect to Southworth.
The crowd stood almost shoulder-to-shoulder between Fourth and Seventh streets.
As the procession approached Eastern, the crowd became silent and employees from businesses across the street stepped outside to pay respects.
The procession was led by a squad car from the Oakland Police Department, where Southworth worked as a part-time officer.
The Eastern ROTC stood in formation and saluted the procession as it passed.
"Personally, I think the community responded very well," said Capt. Thomas Taylor of the Panther Battalion.
Taylor said there was a wonderful turnout from the community.
Southworth was commissioned through the ROTC program in May 2006.
Taylor said several cadets knew Southworth.
"A lot of cadets looked up to him," he said.
University President Bill Perry was glad to see the substantial turnout from the community to pay respects.
"One of the strengths of small towns in America, especially the Midwest, is the pulling together in a time of need," he said.
The visitation for Southworth is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Standard Funeral Home, 215 E. Main St. in Oakland.
The family will be present from 3 to 8 p.m.
The funeral service is at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Oakland High School gymnasium, with burial following in the Oakland Cemetery.
Southworth is survived by his wife, Chrissy, and their four children; his parents, Robert and Kimberly Southworth; and his two siblings, Michael and Nikki.
Southworth, a 2006 graduate of Eastern, was commissioned through the ROTC program in May 2006.
Memorials can be made to the Southworth family at the Citizens National Bank or to the Lt. Jared Southworth ROTC Fund within the EIU Foundation.
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