Update: Services announced for fallen soldier

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Posted: 2/18/09

Updated 2/18 at 5:30 p.m. CST

President Perry announced Wednesday in an e-mail that a military ceremony and procession will take place Thursday morning for 1st Lt. Jared Southworth, who was killed Feb. 8 in Afghanistan while serving with the Illinois National Guard. Southworth is a Eastern graduate and was commissioned through the ROTC program in 2006.

The procession will begin at the Coles County Memorial Airport in Mattoon and travel east on Lincoln through Charleston past Old Main. The procession will then turn north onto 18th Street and head toward Southworth's hometown, Oakland. Those who wish to attend the ceremony at the airport are asked to be there by 9 a.m.

Perry encouraged the community to line the procession route and bring a flag to show support for the Southworth family.

A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Standard Funeral Home, 215 E. Main St., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday , Feb. 22, at the Oakland High School gymnasium, followed by interment at the Oakland Cemetery.