thedrifter
02-25-09, 06:34 AM
Mourners gather to lay Montana soldier to rest at Arlington Cemetery
By ZACH BENOIT
Of The Gazette Staff
He was laid to rest nearly 2,000 miles across the country from his hometown of Colstrip, but Marine Sgt. Trevor J. Johnson's Montana roots were on full display as he was buried with full military honors Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Johnson, 23, was killed Jan. 27 by a roadside bomb in Helmland Province, Afghanistan.
He was escorted to his burial plot in Section 60 - the area of Arlington where casualties from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried - by Lonesome, a Montana-born mustang and the lead horse pulling Johnson's caisson.
It was a fitting burial for Johnson, who grew up on a ranch southeast of Forsyth and joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 17, while he was still in high school. His wife, Nikki Johnson; their two children, 3-year-old son Landon and 8-month-old daughter Aspyn; and his parents, Tom and Colleen Johnson, were among the 100 or so people in attendance.
Gunnery Sgt. William J. Dixon, the Marine Corps' funeral director at Arlington, said the services lasted about an hour and were attended by about 40 other Montanans, including Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester. Some of those Montanans, he said, did not know the Johnson family but were in the area, "heard we were burying a Marine" and decided to attend.
"That was really, really touching," Dixon said.
The services included a private viewing for family and friends at a funeral home, a procession led by the President's Marine Band and Lonesome pulling Johnson's caisson. A Purple Heart ceremony was held in his honor, 21 shots were fired - the shell casing of which were presented to his family - and American flags were given to Nikki and Tom Johnson.
"We weren't weakened today," Dixon said. "We laid to rest one of our warriors. Today was a little bit more special. This horse from Montana brought one of Montana's residents to rest. That, to me, was honorable."
On Feb. 7, a memorial for Johnson was held on the family ranch. It drew about 600 people and also included a procession led by Marines and a horse. That time, it was riderless horse named Pecos that Johnson rode when he was younger.
Published on Wednesday, February 25, 2009.
Last modified on 2/25/2009 at 12:25 am
Ellie
By ZACH BENOIT
Of The Gazette Staff
He was laid to rest nearly 2,000 miles across the country from his hometown of Colstrip, but Marine Sgt. Trevor J. Johnson's Montana roots were on full display as he was buried with full military honors Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Johnson, 23, was killed Jan. 27 by a roadside bomb in Helmland Province, Afghanistan.
He was escorted to his burial plot in Section 60 - the area of Arlington where casualties from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried - by Lonesome, a Montana-born mustang and the lead horse pulling Johnson's caisson.
It was a fitting burial for Johnson, who grew up on a ranch southeast of Forsyth and joined the U.S. Marine Corps at 17, while he was still in high school. His wife, Nikki Johnson; their two children, 3-year-old son Landon and 8-month-old daughter Aspyn; and his parents, Tom and Colleen Johnson, were among the 100 or so people in attendance.
Gunnery Sgt. William J. Dixon, the Marine Corps' funeral director at Arlington, said the services lasted about an hour and were attended by about 40 other Montanans, including Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester. Some of those Montanans, he said, did not know the Johnson family but were in the area, "heard we were burying a Marine" and decided to attend.
"That was really, really touching," Dixon said.
The services included a private viewing for family and friends at a funeral home, a procession led by the President's Marine Band and Lonesome pulling Johnson's caisson. A Purple Heart ceremony was held in his honor, 21 shots were fired - the shell casing of which were presented to his family - and American flags were given to Nikki and Tom Johnson.
"We weren't weakened today," Dixon said. "We laid to rest one of our warriors. Today was a little bit more special. This horse from Montana brought one of Montana's residents to rest. That, to me, was honorable."
On Feb. 7, a memorial for Johnson was held on the family ranch. It drew about 600 people and also included a procession led by Marines and a horse. That time, it was riderless horse named Pecos that Johnson rode when he was younger.
Published on Wednesday, February 25, 2009.
Last modified on 2/25/2009 at 12:25 am
Ellie