Published: November 09, 2009 12:14 pm         

NEW: Fallen Army Sgt. Dale Griffin returns home

TERRE HAUTE — The body of U.S. Army Sgt. Dale Griffin, a 1999 Terre Haute South Vigo High School graduate, arrived at Terre Haute International Airport-Hulman Field this morning.

A long line of cars and about 50 motorcycles waited on the north side of the airport terminal building about 10 a.m. after Griffin’s casket was solemnly unloaded from a small charter jet.

About 10:15 a.m., a long, black hearse drove off the runway of the airport and headed into town, led by police cars and about 50 motorcycle riders with the Patriot Guard.

Clusters of people, many holding American flags, stood at different points along the route from the airport to Greiner Funeral Home on North 13th Street.

“I was a soldier once,” said Jack Forsythe, a Korean War veteran holding a flag with dozens of other people across the street from the north-side funeral home. “Any support from the hometown means a lot,” he said. Forsythe said he was there to support Griffin’s family at their time of loss.

Dozens of children were among those lining the route through town. Some groups of people were standing along the route near the airport, while others stood outside businesses along Wabash Avenue and 13th Street as they waited for the procession.

Griffin, 29, was killed Oct. 27 by a roadside bomb along with six other soldiers and an Afghan civilian in southern Afghanistan.

Visitation for Griffin will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1845 N. 6 1/2 St. Funeral services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at South High School.