Solemn homecoming: Columbus Municipal Airport
11:23 a.m. Hundreds turn out to honor hero
Hundreds of people are waiting for the procession carrying the casket of Sgt. Jonathon Hunter near the ending point, at the Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home. That includes all 80 seventh- and eighth-grade students from St. Peter’s Lutheran School, who vowed to stay through rain that’s falling.
11:15 a.m. Motorcade begins
10:12 
a.m. Columbus East family
Jeff and Debbie Lane, Columbus, came out to represent the Columbus East family and honor Sgt. Hunter. The Lane’s sons have played and been managers of the Columbus East football team.
10:05 a.m. An American hero
Samantha Long and Kim Billingsley, both of Columbus, are waiting in 
the public viewing area for Sgt. Hunter’s plane to arrive. They said they did not know him or the family but wanted to pay respect to an American hero.
10 a.m. Paying respects
Columbus resident Harold Hatter is a Korean War veteran, and he has come to the airport to honor Sgt. Jonathon Hunter. Hunter’s death is a sad thing, he said.
9:30 a.m. More arriving at Columbus Municipal Airport
Here’s the procession schedule
Law enforcement and motorcycle groups will escort the remains of Sgt. Jonathon Hunter, 23, of Columbus, today from Columbus Municipal Airport to the Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home.
Limited public viewing will be available at the airport, 4770 Ray Boll Boulevard, so organizers are recommending that members of the general public pay their respects along the route — south on Central Avenue, west on 25th Street and south on Washington Street.
Here are key times for today’s procession:
9:30 a.m.: Motorcyclists wishing to be in escort group must check in at airport.
10:40 a.m.: Military aircraft carrying Hunter’s remains scheduled to land at airport, with a water-cannon salute by the Columbus Fire Department as the plane taxis in, followed by a brief ceremony.
11 a.m.: Procession leaves airport for 4.5-mile trip to the funeral home at 1029 Washington St. Length of time for the procession will depend on the travel speed of the vehicles involved, but it’s expected to take about 30 minutes.
Map of the route.
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Photo gallery: Dignified transfer of remains at Dover Air Force Base
Video
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