Fallen Marine Honored At Arrival Home

NAS JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A Marine Honor guard welcomed Private First Class Donald Vincent at the completion of his long journey home from the rugged mountains of Afghanistan to the smooth tarmac at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

A gentle rain began falling as Vincent's flag-draped coffin was loaded into a hearse before family and friends for the procession home to Gainesville.

Thousands lined a processional route through the Naval Air Station's main roads, saluting or placing their hands over their hearts as the motorcade passed by.

"We come out to honor a fallen hero," said Orange Park resident Juanita Wilkerson.

Wilkerson was among the throngs who stood in the hot morning sun for hours. She stood with three of the four generations of patriots in her family's lineage.

"My father was in for 30 years. My three older brothers followed in his footsteps and my husband followed in his dad's footsteps," said Cathy Cayton, Wilkerson's daughter.

"I'm a Navy wife of thirty years and my daughter has followed in my footsteps and served the same amount of time and we (our family) have served in every war since the Civil War," said Wilkerson.

But today was about paying respects for a young Marine they never knew, a soul with a common bond of patriotism.

"We take honor for our country at the utmost!" said Wilkerson.

"I feel sadness for the family," said Cayton.

"My heart goes out to them. I'm sure they're proud that their (Marine) made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and other countries that we're helping to protect. But with that goes so much sorrow."

And as the motorcade of more than 100 vehicles wound past thousands saluting or with hands over their hearts, it was a moment to be remembered for eleven-year-old Mikayla, her grandmother, and her great-grandmother.

Wilkerson was overcome with emotion as the body of the young Marine was driven past, but through the tears, she spoke from her red, white and blue heart.

"I'm sorry that I deal with the loss of this young Marine, and what he sacrificed so that we have the freedom in our country. And I know how the family feels. It's such a great loss. And I hope the country will let them know just what it means to give up a son for our freedom!"

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