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Veterans, Military Families Line The Streets In Chicopee, Mass., To Honor Fallen Soldier

The remains of Army Master Sergeant Luis F. DeLeon-Figueroa were flown to Westover Air Reserve Base on Monday morning. The Green Beret, who was from Chicopee, Massachusetts, died last month during combat in Afghanistan.

DeLeon-Figueroa, who was 31, was killed during his sixth tour of duty. He served in the Army for more than 13 years and had also been deployed to Iraq and South America.

As a long motorcade carrying his remains drove from the airport to a funeral home, people holding American flags lined the streets, and stood silently.

Many of those honoring him had served in the military or had family who are serving, including Carol Devine of Ludlow. Her son was wounded in Afghanistan and is getting ready to redeploy.

“All of us know that we may be lined up at a procession,” Devine said. “All of us know that and that's part of the hardship.”

George Murray, a Vietnam veteran, said he was there out of respect for other veterans and for DeLeon–Figueroa.

“He gave his life for his country. I certainly can give a few hours to honor him, salute him when he goes by," Murray said. "I have a grandson who will soon be deployed to Afghanistan."

Jennifer Raschilla, who has a son serving in the military, stood beside Murray.

“My son is a Navy corpsman,” she said. “And he is stationed in Afghanistan at the hospital that [DeLeon-Figueroa] came through.”

DeLeon-Figueroa was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Following a funeral service at Bethany Assembly of God Church, he will be buried Tuesday with full military honors at the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Agawam.

Nancy Eve Cohen is a senior reporter focusing on Berkshire County. Earlier in her career she was NPR’s Midwest editor in Washington, D.C., managing editor of the Northeast Environmental Hub and recorded sound for TV networks on global assignments, including the war in Sarajevo and an interview with Fidel Castro.
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