Sidewalks in north Cobb and Fulton counties were lined Wednesday morning with people paying respects to a Kennesaw soldier killed last month in Afghanistan.
A motorcade bearing the body of Army 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Walsh left Dobbins Air Reserve Base about 10:30 and headed north on Cobb Parkway.
The motorcade, which included dozens of motorcycles and other vehicles, passed North Cobb High School, where hundreds of students lined up and JROTC members saluted, and Kennesaw State University, from which the 28-year-old soldier graduated in 2008.
After winding its way through north Cobb County, the nearly two-hour motorcade continued through north Fulton County to Roswell Funeral Home on Mansell Road.
All along the route, motorists stopped and got out of their cars to honor the soldier. Many held American flags.
Walsh was killed April 22 when a truck in which he was riding struck an improvised explosive device.
He was one of two paratroopers, stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., who died in the blast.
Walsh, a platoon leader, had worked in financial services before joining the Army in 2010.
He is survived by his wife, Debra, and son, Austin, of Raeford, N.C., and by his parents, Paul and Carolyn Walsh of Kennesaw.
A memorial service for Walsh will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Kennesaw State University.
Staff writer Ernie Suggs contributed to this article.
About the Author
