Body Of Slain Washington County Soldier Returns Home

CLAYSVILLE, Pa.,None — The body of a Claysville, Washington County, soldier killed while on sniper duty in Afghanistan returned home on Friday.

Motorcycle riders and police cars escorted the body of Army Sgt. Nathan Kennedy from the Washington County Airport to Claysville. People lined the streets and waved flags.

Kennedy, 24, was killed April 27 when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire near Quarando Village.

VIDEO: Body Of Slain Washington County Soldier Returns Home

"Nathan is a fantastic guy," said Claysville resident Bonnie Droboj, who lined the streets with others to see the cortege. "I mean, he was always happy, loved doing what he did. An outstanding wrestler. He was well loved in the community. Our hearts are with him and God bless Nathan."

"We're here to pay respects to this young man," said Lawrence Meeks, fighting back tears.

A sign at the elementary school Kennedy attended read, "We will miss you, Nathan."

Visitation is scheduled at the James R. Hunt American Legion Post 639 in Claysville on Friday and Saturday, with funeral services there on Sunday afternoon.

The American Legion post is preparing a military procession for his funeral, including an antique caisson, a riderless horse and motorcycles.

Mary Lou Kennedy said her grandson's sense of humor always made her smile.

"He was always around," she said. "He would call. I talked to him two weeks ago. Sunday, he called. He always called me Mary Lou. I said, ‘Why don't you call me Grandma?' He'd always call me Mary Lou to torment me."

Kennedy graduated from McGuffey High School in 2004, where he was a wrestler. He's survived by his father, a brother and two sisters. His mother, Penelope, died in 2001.

Kennedy was deployed to Afghanistan in June. He was scheduled to return to the United States in two weeks.

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