The Daily News

BOGALUSA - Cpl. Justin Mixon's family had requested privacy during its time of great sorrow. But the 22 year-old father, husband, son and brother had given his life in the service of every one of the hundreds who showed up at the George Carr Memorial Airport in Bogalusa Monday to honor him any way.

They did it with the greatest of respect.

DAILY NEWS PHOTO/Marcelle Hanemann An honor detail prepares to load the casket of Cpl. Justin Ray Mixon into a hearse for transport to Franklinton. Advertisement

The plane bringing the young soldier's body back home for burial arrived about 15 minutes ahead of schedule. As it taxied in, the crowd, including family members, dignitaries, military personnel, veterans and scores of private citizens, grew intensely silent under the late morning sun.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion as the military escort disembarked and helped prepare the way for the flag-draped casket. When it was finally lowered to the black receiving gurney, there was a ceremonial salute - long and exquisitely slow. The intensity of the gathering somehow deepened.

Only an occasional vocal salute, from one quarter or another, broke the stillness.

Mixon's young widow, Tia, and his parents Rev. Walter and Melinda, stood at his side, each with a member of the military in close support. The fallen soldier's parents wiped tears from their faces. Tia sobbed quietly.

Mixon's 11-month-old son, Tony, was too young to understand the significance of the event. He was at a short distance, in other arms that were surely, for that moment, stronger.

The simple ceremony ended. The casket was loaded into a waiting vehicle, and the procession through Washington Parish began through a double line of saluting reservists.

Along the route, through Bogalusa, Franklinton and beyond, people stood with flags in hand, with hands over their hearts, with hands raised in salute and tears in their eyes.

It was a scene that has played out more than 4,000 times in small towns and big cities across the United States since the war in Iraq began. It was the fourth time in Washington Parish.

Martha Young whose father was the brother of Mixon's grandmother, passed out red, white and blue lapel ribbons along the procession's early route in Bogalusa.

She said she was thankful that so many people "turned out" in the young man's honor. But she hopes it doesn't have to happen again.

"I'm proud, but sad," said Young. "I ask everyone to pray for the family. And I ask them to pray for the rest of them that's over there."