Soldier's ceremony held today

Local residents are encouraged to attend, support procession

By: Staff Report

Posted: 2/19/09

Services were announced for Eastern graduate 1st Lt. Jared Southworth, 26, who was killed in Afghanistan Feb. 8 while serving with the Illinois National Guard.

Southworth's body is scheduled to arrive at the Coles County Memorial Airport in Mattoon between 9:15 and 10:15 a.m. today.

A military ceremony with the family will take place at the airport. Those who wish to attend are asked to be in place by 9 a.m.

A procession of Illinois State Police, local police squad cars and Patriot Guard volunteers will travel past campus on Lincoln Avenue, and turn north on 18th Street en route to Hindsboro and his hometown Oakland.

The public is encouraged to show support for Southworth and his family by lining the procession route.

The Eastern ROTC plans to be in formation in front of Old Main during the procession.

The visitation 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.