Hundreds turn out to respect fallen Marine

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Peninsula News Network

Forks, WA - Hundreds of people lined local roads and streets Tuesday evening, waving flags to pay tribute to a Forks Marine who was killed in Iraq.

The military motorcade carrying the body of Marine PFC Jason Hanson made the three hour plus trip from Seattle Tuesday, bringing his body back to the Peninsula just over a week after he was killed in combat action in the Persian Gulf.

Hanson was killed along with several other soldiers the weekend of July 30th. His family has said he was killed when a building collapsed.

Veterans in Sequim lined the overpasses on the highway with flags, and in Port Angeles, children and adults gathered on the curbs, waving flags as the hearse carrying Hanson’s body passed by, proceeded by police cars and followed by more than a dozen veterans riding motorcycles that had joined the procession.

A Marine honor guard then moved Hanson’s casket inside the Harper-Ridgeview funeral home, where there will be a public viewing between 10 and 4 Wednesday.

Forks residents will gather for a public memorial Wednesday night, which will be followed by a private funeral Thursday.