Photo: WOWT 6 News
(Omaha, NE) -- Fallen Omaha Marine Cpl. Daegan Page is now back home in Omaha.
Thousands of people lined the motorcade route Friday afternoon as Cpl. Page's body was taken from Eppley Airfield to Braman Mortuary in Millard. Page was one of 13 U.S. service members killed during a suicide bombing at the Kabul, Afghanistan airport on August 26th. WOWT 6 News reports that airport authorities notified them that the private plane carrying the remains of Cpl. Page was cleared for landing at around 1:10 Friday afternoon.
After the fallen Marine’s remains were placed into the hearse the procession of vehicles, led by Omaha Police Department motorcycles, left the airport around 2:00. The motorcade procession went from Abbott Drive and Locust Street to 10th Street, then to Cass Street before traveling on the interstate. The motorcade traveled along I-480 to I-80, exiting at L Street, then continued to 132nd Street, onto Millard Avenue, and then to 144th Street, ending at Braman Mortuary, near 144th and Harrison. The procession took about 30 minutes, as the hearse arrived at the mortuary around 2:30.
Following the procession, Page's family released the following statement:
Omaha… you never looked better.
It was an amazing honor to bring Daegan home to the open arms of his hometown today.
We wish we could have stopped and thanked every person who took time out of their day to pay their respects to Daegan. We want you to know we saw all of you - police officers, firefighters, school children, veterans, service members, families, the brave souls camped out on every overpass, the construction workers along I-80 at 84th Street, the crowds all down Millard Avenue, the Patriot Guard riders, and all the thousands of people who waved flags, held signs, and even brought their dogs to salute Daegan. He would have been amazed.
Daegan’s homecoming was truly a hero’s welcome. Our hearts are still broken, but we are the lucky few who know what it is like to receive a hug from the city of Omaha.
Thank you.
-Family of Cpl. Daegan Page
Page's body will remain at the funeral home, guarded 24/7 by a Marine, until his funeral next week. The service is planned for 10 a.m. Friday, September 17th, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, located at 13271 Millard Ave.