Callaway County residents will have a chance to memorialize Sgt. Talon Leach this Sunday, according to Kent Knuttson of Debo Funeral Home.
There will be a public memorial service for the former Fulton resident at 4 p.m. at North Callaway High School, followed by a procession through Fulton.
"What we're trying to do - at the end of his service, we're trying to have an escort that should be fairly large," Knuttson said.
The 27-year-old, who grew up in Fulton, was aboard the aircraft that crashed in Mississippi on July 10. Fifteen Marines and one Navy serviceman were killed in the crash. Tab Leach and Lisa Corbet, his parents, have invited the public to the memorial service and are expecting around 1,500 attendees, Knuttson said.
At about 5 p.m., a processional including members of Leach's family, the state Highway Patrol and other law enforcement, fire trucks and the Patriot Guard Riders will depart from the high school.
"There will be so many uniformed (people) in the procession," Knuttson said. "I think those people along with the family, that's probably the extent of the procession."
Knuttson said they'll proceed to Fulton, then travel south down U.S. Business 54, past the traffic circle and out of town.
"(The public are) invited to stand along the street and honor Talon's family by being there," Knuttson said.
He added that people can pick up small American flags from Debo Funeral Home at 833 Court St. in Fulton.
"We're honored to do it and just overwhelmed by the help of the community, the police departments and the fire departments," he said. "Our goal is just to honor Talon and his family."
Flags to be lowered
Gov. Eric Greitens has ordered flags to half-staff statewide in honor of the fallen Marine from Callaway County.
All U.S. and Missouri flags at state buildings in all 114 counties and the City of St. Louis are ordered to be flown at half-staff today to honor the bravery and sacrifice of Leach.
In addition, Gov. Greitens has ordered that the U.S. and Missouri flags at all state buildings in Callaway County be flown at half-staff from August 16-22. The proclamation can be read here: https://governor.mo.gov/sites/governor/files/Sgt%20Talon%20Leach.pdf.
Leach was assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, Camp Lejuene, North Carolina. His awards and decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, and three Certificates of Appreciation.