Memorial Day weekend will honor local veteran U.S. Army Pvt. Lamarol J. Tucker, 26, who was killed in Afghanistan last week.
Tucker, of Gainesville, was killed May 16 from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device in Zabul province, Afghanistan, according to Maj. Bill Coppernoll, U.S. Army Alaska Public Affairs Officer. Tucker's unit was conducting a mounted patrol when it was attacked.
According to the Alachua County Sherrif's Office, Tucker's body will be arriving in Gainesville by private jet at about 10:30 a.m. today. There will be a procession starting from Gainesville Regional Airport and will end at Chestnut Funeral Home, 18 NW 8th Ave. Residents are encouraged to line the route to pay respect to Pvt. Tucker.
Funeral services will take place Saturday at Passage Family Church, 2020 NE 15th St.
Memorial Day, which will be observed Monday, is the day for remembering those like Tucker who have died serving the United States, said retired Sgt. Maj. Major J. Stroup, director of Alachua County Veterans Services.
Civilians get mixed up and use the day as a reason to celebrate life rather than to reflect and mourn all the lives that have been lost, he said.
"People have to remember that there is still a war going on out there," he said. "We're still losing people."
