Hundreds of people lined the streets of a procession line for Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback to show respect for a fallen hero March 12, 2011, in O’Fallon, Ill. Airman Cuddeback and another Airman were killed March 2, 2011, when a man opened fire on a bus of U.S. Airmen at an airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Airman Cuddeback was laid to rest next to his grandfather at a cemetery in O'Fallon, Ill. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Brian J. Valencia)

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Freedom Riders lead the procession route of Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback March 12, 2011, in O’Fallon, Ill. Airman Cuddeback and another Airman were killed March 2, 2011, when a man opened fire on a bus of U.S. Airmen at an airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Airman Cuddeback was laid to rest next to his grandfather at a cemetery in O'Fallon, Ill. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Brian J. Valencia)

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John McGinnis and his son, Conner, 9, place an American flag along the funeral procession route for Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback on March 10, 2011. Airman Cuddeback and another Airman were killed March 2, 2011, when a man opened fire on a bus of Airmen at an airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Airman Cuddeback was laid to rest next to his grandfather at a cemetery in O'Fallon, Ill. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Divine Cox)

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Volunteers from Scott Air Force Base, Ill. and the local area receive American flags in preparation to line the funeral procession route for Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback on March 10, 2011. Airman Cuddeback and another Airman were killed March 2, 2011, when a man opened fire on a bus of Airmen at an airport in Frankfurt, Germany. Airman Cuddeback was laid to rest next to his grandfather at a cemetery in O'Fallon, Ill. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Divine Cox)

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Scott AFB commander thanks supporters for honoring fallen Airman

Published March 13, 2011
By Col. Michael Hornitschek
375th Air Mobility Wing commander

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- On behalf of Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon, 86th Airlift Wing commander at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, the men and women of Team Scott, and the U.S. Air Force, I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for the amazing outpouring of support as we returned and laid to rest Airman 1st Class Zachary Cuddeback in his hometown, the great city of O'Fallon, Ill.

The news of Zac's death was a tragic shock -- a senseless act of misguided religion as Monsignor Hitpas so eloquently stated at Zac's funeral. Once the word reached home though, the local community instantly embraced each other for support and then embraced the task of preparing for a fallen hero's return.

From the March 14 procession into O'Fallon, to the presence of the Patriot Guard, law enforcement, and fire department escorts, to the thousands of flags and citizens lining his farewell route, and the effort to ensure Zac had an unforgettable and befitting funeral and burial, every aspect was truly showcase.

It inspires those of us in military service to redouble our efforts to defend the ideals and lives of the citizens we are sworn to protect, knowing that those same people understand the sacrifice their sons and daughters are prepared to and sometimes must make.

For those of us at Scott AFB, we know everyday how truly blessed we are to have such great neighbors and to be a part of the rich community fabric of southwestern Illinois. Thank you--we are at your service.