BY ALEX PIAZZA
apiazza@record-eagle.com
TRAVERSE CITY — Cpl. Paul James Miller joined an enormous extended family four years ago when he enlisted in the U.S. Marines Corps.
Those same family members, many of whom never even met Miller, organized a procession to escort his remains today to a Traverse City funeral home in preparation for his memorial service. A motorcycle fleet chock-full of veterans and local authorities is expected to follow a vehicle that will transport the young Benzie County corporal's body to Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
Miller, 22, of Lake Ann, died last week after a roadside bomb exploded nearby while he was on foot patrol with the Third Combat Engineer Battalion in Helmand province, Afghanistan, U.S. Department of Defense records show. His remains are expected to arrive this afternoon at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.
Nearly 100 motorcycles plan to greet the incoming plane today as it enters the tarmac.
"That's why everyone is out there," said Michael Dickinson, of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Cherryland Post, who expects a significant crowd at the airport. "It's in respect of the fallen comrade."
Motorcycles are not allowed on airport tarmacs, so officials worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to get clearance for the escort.
The procession is expected to exit the airport on Parsons Road, turn right on Garfield Avenue, left on Eighth Street, right on Union Street, then left on Sixth Street where it concludes at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
Miller's visitation is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, while funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Lake Ann United Methodist Church.
"There will be a lot more bikes on Thursday," Dickinson said.
His memorial service will include full military honors at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens Cemetery, which is expected to include several area veterans.
"We're all brothers and we all stand side-by-side," said Paul Smith, former Marine and president of the Forgotten Eagles of Michigan Chapter 6. "It's an honor to pay homage to someone who gave their life for freedom and democracy."
Miller was a 2006 graduate of Benzie Central High School and enlisted in the Marines shortly after graduation. He is survived by his wife, Sarah, sister Ashley and parents Jim and Teresa Miller.
