Supporters line route to honor Marine killed in Afghanistan

The body of U.S. Marine Sgt. Daniel Angus, killed in action in Afghanistan last month, came home today. His flag-draped casket arrived at MacDill Air Force Base this afternoon and took a circuitous trip through downtown Tampa to Serenity Meadows Funeral Home in Riverview.

The funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Brandon, followed by a military burial at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Along the route, people, some retired military, some related to someone in the military and others who just wanted to show respect for a fallen warrior waved flags, saluted and stood solemnly as the motorcade passed.

Judith Anderson of St. Petersburg held two American flags in the median of Bayshore Boulevard in front of the Colonnade Restaurant.

"I'm here to honor our Marine," she said, "to show everyone that somebody does care."
She has a nephew who has served a couple of tours in the Middle East.

"They have made huge sacrifices for us."

She was one of about 100 people who crowded around the intersection for an hour before the motorcade passed, they chatted quietly; strangers with a common goal: to show respect to the Marine and his family. A hush fell over the crowd as the motorcade approached. A contingent of retired Marines, wearing red shirts and hats, saluted as the Serenity Meadows Funeral Home hearse drove by.

A career Marine who was on his third tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Angus, 28, died Jan. 24 while on foot patrol in the Helmand province in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device detonated. The explosion also killed two other Marines.

The motorcade left the base at 2:30 p.m. and headed north on Bayshore Boulevard, winding through downtown en route to the funeral home in Riverview. Tampa City Council members paused their meeting to watch the motorcade.

Angus served in Iraq from July 2004 to February 2005 and again from December 2005 to March 2006. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7 and 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade based in Camp Lejune, N.C.

The Armwood High School graduate of 2000, who grew up in Thonotosassa, was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2007. Along the way, he was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, two Good Conduct Medals, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a number of service decorations.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and daughter, Kaitlyn, who will turn 2 in March. They live in Kingston, Tenn.

A visitation is planned from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church of Brandon, 120 N. Knights Ave., with a funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial with full military honors will take place at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, following the funeral service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Kaitlyn Marie Angus Fund at Railroad Industrial Federal Credit Union, 3710 N. 50th St., Tampa FL 33619.

Among those who took part in the motorcade was a group of active duty and veteran military motorcyclists. They include representatives of at least seven veterans' motorcycle groups: Patriot Guard, Nam Knights, Am Vets, Legion Riders Post 148, LAMAs, SUMC and Rolling Thunder Fla. Chapter 11.

All were off duty and some traded shifts to ride in the escort. All told, about 150 bikers followed the motorcade, said Shelly Vail, a coordinator with Troop Support Alliance in Tampa.

Bikers ranged in age from 18-year-old new recruits to an 80-year-old retired lieutenant colonel, she said.

Tampa, she said, is a unique place in that the military here is embraced by the community. The base, two veterans' hospitals and a large contingent of retired military here make it that way, she said.

"The older guys at the base who have been around the world know that," she said. "We want the (new recruits here) to take the opportunity to learn that wherever you end up in the military, you always are going to have a relationship with the community."

The motorcade was an important gesture, she said.

"You've got to step up and say, 'We care,' " she said. "It's important to let the family know that we care and show the respect that this person deserves."