Northern Virginia Bureau reporter David Culver with the family of a local Marine who died last week in Afghanistan
More than 200 motorcyclists escorted a fallen Marine and his family from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware home to Virginia Friday afternoon.
Staff Sgt. David Stewart, a 34-year-old native of Stafford, Virginia, was killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan last week.
Route 3 was lined with people carrying flags, waving, saluting and covering their hearts. State police from Delaware, Maryland and Virginia participated in the escort.
Stewart's father, who also served in the Marines, was overwhelmed by the showing.
"What blows me away, frankly, is the turnout," he said. "I mean, we love David. My family and my friends love David, but to see the number of people up and down this street paying respects to my son is very powerful."
Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Garabrant, 19, of Peterborough, New Hampshire, and Lance Cpl. Adam R. Wolff, 25, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were also killed as a result of the hostile incident.
All three were all assigned to the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion (Forward) in the 2nd Marine Division.
This was Stewart's fifth deployment in 10 years, and his second in Afghanistan. He was serving as a platoon sergeant for the 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
Stewart graduated from North Stafford High School and still considered Stafford his home despite living near Camp Lejuene in North Carolina, said his father.
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Nelson Stewart told News4's David Culver that his son was a "warm, loving person."
His wife, Kristine, said she hopes her husband is remembered for his positive attitude.
Stewart will be interred at Quantico.
