Even the sky wore dress blues.
Scores of supporters gathered to pay their respects on a Marietta overpass Thursday as the remains of Marine Lance Cpl. Skip Wells were returned to Cobb County. Storm clouds marched in as the procession escorting the fallen 21-year-old, slain by a terrorist’s bullet in Chattanooga, Tenn., last week, made its way up I-75.
Raindrops started falling. No one moved.
“Our whole community has a sense of loss and grief,” said Marietta Police Chief Dan Flynn. “We care about our own. We’re hurting because we’ve lost a hometown hero.”
The tribute came together quickly. On Wednesday, Marietta Mayor Steve Tumlin asked Flynn if it would be all right for him and a few friends to wave flags from the Canton Road overpass as the procession passed. Flynn and Marietta Fire Department Chief Jackie Gibbs took that as the impetus to coordinate the well-organized community gathering.
“They put this together in three hours,” Tumlin said.
Word spread rapidly via social media, rallying residents such as Romana Cozzolino to join the effort. Her sons went to Sprayberry High School, Wells’ alma mater.
“He was so young,” she said. “It was a tragedy on our soil. It just breaks my heart.”
Hundreds gathered at a Tuesday night memorial at Sprayberry to remember Wells, and the Cobb County School District released details on visitation and funeral services. Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Winkenhofer Funeral Home, 2950 Cobb Parkway in Kennesaw. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church Woodstock, 11905 Ga. 92 in Woodstock. Wells will be interred with military honors at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.
On Thursday, supporters carrying both American and U.S. Marine Corps flags started assembling hours ahead of time. At first, the event had the tenor of a church picnic, with neighbors catching up and chatting. Then came a sea of blue lights on the horizon. A swarm of motorcycles rumbled past. Finally, the hearse. Wells had come home.
The bridge fell silent but for the flags, snapping in the wind.
“This is hard,” whispered Tara Guest Glover, her eyes glistening.
Before departing, the crowd looked to Tumlin, known around town as Thunder, and he delivered a somber benediction as the clouds opened up: “God Bless America.”
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