The school kids asked for the honor. And then gave it back.

The original repatriation route for the returning remains of U.S. Army Cpl. Jason Pautsch did not include swings past his three Davenport schools: Harrison Elementary, Wood Intermediate and North High School.

“The schools asked for the honor of having their former student come by the school,” Davenport Police Capt. David Struckman said. “We wanted to give them that. We made kind of a last-minute schedule change.”

As the hearse carrying the 20-year-old fallen soldier passed the three schools Friday, hundreds of students, teachers and school staffers made straight, long, somber lines along the street. As the children held their hands over their hearts or waved the American flags they had colored themselves, many teachers wept.

Also along the route, hundreds of motorists got out of their cars that were stopped by the procession, saluting the nearly mile-long stretch of mostly Patriot Guard riders that flanked the hearse and two limousines carrying Pautsch’s family.

Many of the Patriot Guards went directly to the Davenport Municipal Airport to await the arrival of the remains while others escorted the family from Weerts Funeral Home. At the airport, the riders first stood watch near the hearse, then surrounded the arriving airplane.

At 10:49 a.m., under blue skies, Pautsch was delivered home. His official escort was one of his brothers, Jared Pautsch, a member of the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C. Not a word was uttered as the flag-draped coffin was lowered from the aircraft, and the only sound that could be heard was the flapping of flags in gusts of wind.

The show of community support became instantly clear as the procession left the airport, where the small and large gatherings of people began to appear.  Many had not planned to be present along the route but were caught by intersection closures by police.

There was a foursome of roofers, hair wet from sweat, standing outside their pickup, saluting the hearse. There was a semi-truck driver, standing next to his rig, hat in hand. There was an elderly couple, standing in the gravel driveway in front of their farmhouse, holding their flag.

A half dozen men who were pouring concrete along East 53rd Street stopped what they were doing and placed their hands over their hearts.

Someone who has been in a family limousine in a repatriation procession said the outpouring of warmth and support that is shown by strangers along the route is immeasurably helpful.

Mary Ann Soenksen’s daughter, Pfc. Katie Soenksen, was 19 years old when she was killed May 2, 2007, in Iraq. She also was a graduate of North High School, and her death stirred an enormous community outpouring, her mother said.

She knows what Pautsch’s family can expect during Monday’s visitation and the funeral Tuesday.

“The visitation was unforgettable,” she began. “First, all the students came through, followed by many teachers. All felt a personal attachment to Katie, even if they had never met her before. Then came all the friends, strangers, relatives. I felt very committed to meeting each and every one of them.”

The public support that showed itself after the funeral was equally memorable.

“As we left the parking lot of the church, I could not believe all the people lining the route to the cemetery,” she said. “There were thousands standing along the way, wishing Katie farewell. Reality was upon us, and the only thing that pulled us through was the support from the community.”

Next week, she will return the gesture and will attend services for Pautsch.

“This time is very difficult,” she acknowledged of reliving the process. “But we need to be there for them, like people were there for us.” 

Related

• Neighbors mount support campaign for soldier’s dad
• Pautsch family arrives in Dover for ceremony
• Q-C soldier dies in suicide bomber attack in Iraq
• Thousands attend visitation for Cpl. Jason G. Pautsch