Hundreds welcome Jason Johnston's return
By Tom Rivers
Monday, January 4, 2010 10:17
AM EST in whiteout conditions for the chance to line Route 31 in Albion,
standing in deep snow and shivering to the bone to pay their respects
to Jason M. Johnston, an Albionite who was killed Dec. 26 in Afghanistan.
Hundreds of people braved the 10-degree cold on Sunday. They wanted
to send a message to Johnston’s family that they appreciated his
sacrifice, dying for his country.
See related story.
Pat Fredendall of Holley drove 10 miles in a snowstorm and then
waited two hours at a parking lot at the routes 98 and 31 intersection.
“It’s the least I can do,” Fredendall said about fighting the cold
to show her support for Johnston.
The hearse turns into the driveway at Christopher
Mitchell Funeral Home in Albion. (Mark Gutman/Daily News
She had two sons serve tours of duty in Iraq. Eric
and Daniel, both Marines, returned home in October 2005.
“I sent two kids over and my two kids came home,” she said. “It was
a joyous day when they came home. I can’t imagine the day this family
is having.”
Johnston was flown from Dover to Rochester on Sunday morning. His body
was carried in a silver hearse from Rochester to Albion. The processional
included many Albion fire trucks. Johnston was named an honorary member
of the Albion Fire Department last Monday. His parents, Brad and Jeanine,
are active members of the department.
As the vehicles passed along Route 31, heading to Christopher Mitchell
Funeral Homes, the street-lined crowd in Albion was quiet. Many held
American flags, many bowed their heads and others put hands on their
hearts.
“I’m glad the community came out,” said Mark Johnson, whose three sons
served in Iraq. “We’re out here to support the family, and honor the
young man who gave his life.”
Johnson is friends with Johnston’s father. They are both members of
St. Mary’s Athletic Club. Johnson wore a hat with the U.S. Army logo.
Johnson had Jason Johnston’s name embroidered on it, as well as “We
salute our hometown hero.” He intends to give the hat to Mr. Johnston.
Tom and Anne Kelly, both 63, drove from Hamlin to honor Johnston. The
couple took the American flag from their home and waved the flag at
Albion’s main intersection. They also made a sign, “Thanks JJ.” The
Kellys are part of “Operation Welcome Home.” They have gone to the Rochester
airport eight times to give returning soldiers a big greeting when they
come home.
“This is the opportunity to come out for a local kid,” Mr. Kelley said.
“We just want to pay our respects and support the family.”
Johnston is the first soldier from Albion to die in combat since Rick
Engle was killed in Vietnam in 1968. Carol Tibbits remembers when Engle
died. She was 13 then and friends with Engle’s cousins.
Tibbits was determined to help welcome Johnston home.
“It’s not inconvenient for me to be out here,” she said. “We take too
much for granted in this country. We assume, when we get up, that everything
is going to be OK. But things can change in a second. His life changed
in a second. His parents’ lives changed in a second. His sisters’ lives
changed in a second.”
Tibbits stood along East Avenue with State Assemblyman Steve Hawley,
who drove from Batavia. Hawley graduated from Batavia High School in
1965. Three of his classmates – Richard Laird, Brad Nadeau and Stan
Tomaszewski – were killed in Vietnam. Hawley said the streets weren’t
lined when those soldiers returned from an unpopular war.
The country has learned from Vietnam, not to direct its unhappiness
with a war towards the men and women risking their lives in the military,
Hawley said.
“This is entirely different,” Hawley said about Johnston’s reception.
“Back then there were not American flags waving and the streets lined
with people in a blizzard. This is America at its best.”
Johnston, a specialist in the Army, was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Along with his parents, he is also survived by three sisters, Carrie
(Travis) Riley, Holly Johnston and Heather Johnston, all of Albion;
as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
His family will receive friends from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Christopher
Mitchell Funeral Home, 21 West Ave., Albion. There will be an 11 a.m.
service Tuesday at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph's Church. Interment
will be in Mount Albion Cemetery with full military honors.
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Grave Site
serene and snowy
508th Honor Guard
at parade rest
Final Goodbye
paid by a family member |