Slain soldier’s funeral planned at his Columbus high school
COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP) – The funeral for an Indiana soldier killed during a suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan will be at the high school from which he graduated six years ago.
Military officials say 23-year-old Army Sgt. Jonathon Michael Hunter of Columbus was one of two American soldiers killed in the Aug. 2 attack on a NATO convoy. Hunter was 32 days into his first deployment since joining the Army in 2014.
Hunter’s funeral is set for 2 p.m. Aug. 26 in Columbus East High School’s gymnasium. Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home said calling will be 10 a.m. until the funeral starts in the gymnasium.
Mark Hunter said his son got married last October. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Columbus Police Department issued this statement on Thursday:
The public is encouraged to line a 4.5 mile procession route as area law enforcement officers and military motorcycle groups escort the remains of Sgt. Jonathon Hunter to a local funeral home after his arrival in Columbus on the morning of Tuesday, August 22nd. A military aircraft carrying Sgt. Hunter is scheduled to touch down at Columbus Municipal Airport at approximately 10:40 a.m. The procession will leave the airport at approximately 11:00 a.m. and travel south on Ray Boll Boulevard. The procession will turn west on Arnold Street and then go south on Central Avenue. The procession will turn west on 25th Street and then turn south on Washington Street where it will conclude at the Barkes, Weaver, & Glick Funeral Home located at 1029 Washington Street.
“Motorcyclists wishing to participate in the escort will need to arrive at the airport gate on Middle Road to check in starting at 9:30 a.m. All riders must arrive and be staged no later than 10:15 a.m.
“Since the public viewing area at the airport is limited in size, the community in encouraged to line the procession route to show their support. Limited public parking at the airport will be available.
“Additional information will be made available early next week in regards to Sgt. Hunter’s funeral at Columbus East High School on Saturday, August 26th.”