PHILOMATH, Ore. — Hundreds of people, many with American flags in hand, greeted a motorcade Thursday afternoon in Philomath as it escorted the remains of fallen soldier Cody James Patterson through his hometown.
Patterson was an Army Ranger and 2007 Philomath High School graduate. He was killed Oct. 6 during his second deployment to Afghanistan. A public memorial service is planned for Sunday.
The Corvallis Gazette-Times reports the motorcade passed under a giant American flag hung from a fire engine ladder over Main Street.
Families stood together, some weeping and holding each other. Philomath schools let out early to allow students to witness the procession.
Philomath is a town of about 4,600 southwest of Corvallis in Benton County.
