More than 100 people with American flags silently crowded the
Hollister Municipal Airport runway as the military transport plane
carrying fallen Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez’s body, who died
on Christmas in Afghanistan and is set to be buried Thursday in
Gilroy, came into sight at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
More than 100 people with American flags silently crowded the Hollister Municipal Airport runway as the military transport plane carrying fallen Army Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez’s body, who died on Christmas in Afghanistan and is set to be buried Thursday in Gilroy, came into sight at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Gutierrez, a 35-year-old father of three sons who died while on patrol, will be buried in Gilroy alongside his daughter, who died silently at birth from a rare disease in 2008. The body was scheduled to arrive at 10:40 a.m. at the airport by military transport, then be taken by motorcade to Gilroy, where services will be held Thursday.
Those gathered included Gutierrez’s wife, Patty, and his three sons. They were joined by army officers, Gilroy police, Hollister police, members of the California Highway Patrol, more than 50 members of the Patriot Guard Riders – a group of motorcyclists that will be a part of the funeral procession – and local firefighters.
In the bright and crisp air, few people spoke as the plane readied for a flyover.
Local residents have already been impacted by the funeral procession, as the motorcade – which included police cruisers, army vehicles, motorcycles and a white hearse, all with their hazard lights flashing – passed through Hollister early this morning. The motorcade at times stretched a quarter-mile long and took several minutes to pass through lights.
Patty and the Habing Family Funeral Home, which is handling the services, said a vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church, 11 First St., and a funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, followed by military graveside services and a reception at the Gilroy Veterans Hall, 74 W. Sixth St.
More information and pictures of the military transport will be posted early this afternoon.
