A Leesburg Marine killed in Afghanistan is back home in South Georgia.
The body of Lance Corporal Steve Sutton arrived at the airport in Albany Monday morning where dozens of law officers and Patriot Guardsmen were waiting.
They escorted his hearse through Albany to the funeral home in a stirring display of love and patriotism. The body of Steve Sutton is now at Kimbrell Stern funeral home.
Family members and friends gathered around the plane as his casket was removed and put into a hearse, finally on the ground in South Georgia, and finally home.
Patriot Riders lined the fence of the airport, bearing American flags, saluting the Leesburg native who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
From the airport, Patriot Riders and law enforcement officers escorted the hearse and family members through Albany. As they drove north on Slappey, several drivers pulled over; some got out of their vehicles and put their hands over their hearts.
Sutton's widow, Toni, says she's honored by what the community is doing to show support for Steve, even though he was never much for attention. "He use to hate the crowds and everything. He's just to his self, or just me and him or him and his dad just doing stuff, nothing really big. He just loved to hang out, not really be around a lot of people. But he deserves every bit of it. "
Lance Corporal Sutton was killed in combat in Afghanistan ten days ago.
Since his death, people in Leesburg and Albany again united to recognize a hero, this one a fallen Marine.
An outpouring that surprised his family. "I thought we were going be by ourselves you know. But I had no idea about all the friends and the love pouring out. I mean from Mississippi, from all over the world," said his father, Gene.
"It's very amazing to me. I'm ready to see all of it and see how much he was loved. Which I see it already and everything. It's amazing what everybody is doing. And I'm very, very honored to be able to say I'm his wife and see how honored he was by everybody."
Steve Sutton's widow says he loved the Marines, football, hunting, and fishing. She says she's finding strength from him to get through this difficult time.
A public visitation for Lance Corporal Sutton is scheduled for tomorrow evening from 5:00 until 8:00 at Kimbrell Stern.
His private funeral is Wednesday.
Copyright 2012 WALB. All rights reserved.
The body of Lance Corporal Steve Sutton arrived at the airport in Albany Monday
Sutton's widow, Toni, says she's honored by what the community is doing
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