Thousands of people lined the streets in Erie County on Wednesday afternoon for the funeral procession of Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, who was killed last month in a terrorist attack at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan.
American flags lined the lawns of several homes along South Street as the funeral procession passed through Soviak’s hometown of Berlin Heights. The procession also included hundreds of Patriot Guard motorcyclists and law enforcement from Berlin Heights, Milan, Huron, Norwalk, Eastlake and Willoughby, among other municipalities.
The procession ended at Morman-Hinman-Tanner funeral home, which is located across the street from the Soviak family home.
Soviak, who grew up in Berlin Heights and attended Edison High School, was one of 13 U.S. military members and more than 150 Afghans killed in the Aug. 26 terrorist attacks at Hamid Karzai International Airport. He was 22 years old.
Soviak was honored with a promotion to the rank of Hospital Corpsman Third Class on Sept. 2. Soviak and the other 12 service members were awarded the Purple Heart. Along with the Purple Heart, Soviak was also awarded the Fleet Marine Force Corpsman warfare badge.
Members of the Navy Ceremonial Guard, dressed in all white, came from the Navy operational support center in Akron. American Legion members and law enforcement stood at attention as the Navy Ceremonial Guard carried Soviak’s casket up the steps of the funeral home. The casket was then placed on a table and wheeled inside.
A private viewing will take place Sunday at Edison High School’s field house. Soviak played football for Edison, and he also helped build the field house.
A public funeral service will be held Monday at the high school’s football stadium, with about 3,000 people expected to attend. Soviak will be laid to rest later Monday during a private service at a grave site in his hometown.
Soviak is survived by his mother and father, four grandparents and 12 siblings.
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