Apex, N.C. — More than 100 mourners lined the entrance of the Apex Funeral Home Thursday to honor a fallen soldier whose body was brought back to the Triangle.
A flag-draped coffin, escorted by police, carried the body of Lance Eakes, 25, from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
A motorcycle convoy of Patriot Guard Riders of North Carolina and the Rolling Thunder followed behind, flags waving high in the air.
“(We came) to provide an honor escort for Sgt. Eakes and his family, to pay our respects and to thank them for the gift they’ve given this nation of giving up their son,” Patriot Guard Rider Michael Haluski said.
Eakes, a 2001 graduate of Apex High School, died April 18 in an explosion in Baghdad. Earlier this week, Eakes was posthumously promoted from specialist to sergeant.
He decided to join the military after the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, his family said. He wanted to serve his country, no matter the cost.
“He was scared over there," family friend Sue Smith said. "He told his momma and daddy he was scared, but he knew he was doing what he had to do,”.
Friends described Eakes as an outgoing, mischevious joker, who loved his family, had a big heart and believed in his faith.
His funeral is scheduled for Saturday at the Olive Chapel Cemetery in Apex.
Mourners Pay Their Respects to Fallen Apex Soldier
- Reporter: Bruce Mildwurf
- Photographers: Keith Baker, John Cox, Pete James
- Web Editor: Kelly Hinchcliffe
Copyright 2009 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
27 Comments
-
- Christmas parade marks start of holidays
Updated at 7:29 p.m. | Slideshow |
- Wake County holds flu vaccine clinics for children
Updated at 5:41 p.m. - Bill would require DNA sample from N.C. suspects
Updated at 4:48 p.m. - Damage to Old Chapel Hill Cemetery sparks preservation effort
Updated at 4:48 p.m. - Three patients with drug-resistant H1N1 died
Updated Nov. 20 11:06 p.m. |
- Christmas parade marks start of holidays
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- 2009 Raleigh Christmas Parade crowd
Posted at 2:41 p.m. - 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade
Updated at 6:16 p.m. - Pet Photos | November 16 - November 22, 2009
Updated Nov. 20 10:47 p.m.
- 2009 Raleigh Christmas Parade crowd
Photo Spotlight
-
Bands, marchers in holiday paradeChoose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.
-
Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas ParadeWatch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.
-
Search for missing IRS refundsThe Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.
-
North Carolina unemployment ratesView an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.
-
A year of N.C. Drought MapsView a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.










STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS


Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.