Photo courtesy of Robin Conn of the Huntsville Times

At 0800 this morning, I joined a group of fellow patriots in greeting the plane carrying his body in order to escort him to the funeral home and then to his final resting place. I joined approximately 60 motorcycles, mostly fellow members of the Patriot Guard Riders, and about 300 Huntsvillians at the airport. At almost 1000, the plane landed. Seven Soldiers in Class A uniforms were in already in formation in preparation of the taxiing airplane’s arrival. It seemed as if the entire Huntsville and Madison County Police Departments had come out to show their support. TSA, local Fire Departments, and other agencies also paid their respects. Vets With Vettes, a group of veteran Corvette owners, lined the route on I-565 with flags and honor.

With almost precision-like perfection, the Soldiers removed the casket and marched the thirty feet or so to the hearse. As they did this veterans, Soldiers, and patriots either saluted or had their hands over their hearts in honor of this brave warrior who gave his life for his country.

Photo courtesy of Robin Conn of the Huntsville Times

Huntsville City and Madison County law restricts the number of vehicles in a funeral procession to 25. Motorcycles count as one, so our numbers were limited. Once the family members and friends were counted, only ten bikes were allowed in the procession – six up front and four in the rear. The rest of us stood on line saluting the passing caravan until the last police car had passed. We formed our own caravan and followed the procession to the funeral home.

The line of vehicles seemed to go on forever, at least a mile or more. Cars pulled off the road on respect as SSG Hall’s body passed them. The local newspaper had publicized his arrival and encouraged the public to honor him. Honor him they did. Likewise, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. The piercing blue sky was dotted with clouds that seemed to follow us from the airport to the funeral home while being careful not to obscure the beautiful sunlight highlighting the arrival of an American hero.

At the funeral home, a group of PGR riders had left earlier to provide a flag line through which SSG Hall and his family passed upon arriving. The riders stood at attention, holding large American flags attached to PVC pipe and gently fluttering in the light breeze. The day couldn’t have been more perfect for his arrival and it was my honor to escort this hero to the funeral home.

SSG Hall, 28, was married to his wife, Allison, and had an 11-month-old daughter named Audrey Faith whom he last saw when she was six months old.