The Patriot Guard Riders have received, and accepted, an invitation from the family of Lance Corporal Jonathan S. Long, to provide our services for Jonathan as he returns home. The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA said Monday that 22-year-old LCpl  Jonathan S. Long, of Barboursville, collapsed Saturday night, was flown to a Palm Springs hospital but sadly, passed away.
Long was a bulk fuel specialist with the 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group. His job was to keep tactical vehicles fueled, and he had recently served on a 7-month deployment to Afghanistan.

LCpl Long will be returning on Friday, March 2, to the Greater Cincinnati Airport and will travel via hearse to the funeral home in Huntington. Arrangements are attempting to be made with Bob Woods, OH SC, to have a flag line at the airport for his arrival and, if possible, the beginning of an escort as he returns home.

The escort will involve three separate legs.
 
Stage 1: Airport to I-64 Rest Area near Georgetown, KY (anticipated arrival at the Rest Area is around 2030/8:30PM)
Staging Location OH/KY: Delta Cargo, 3306 Kenton Road, Hebron, Kentucky 41048
Staging date/time: 02 March 2012@1800hrs-(6 PM)
 
Stage 2: Departs I-75 SB Georgetown Rest Area  (around milepost 129) and terminates at I-64 Rest Area (milepost #139) just east of Morehead, KY (anticipated arrival around 2130). 
 
Stage 3: The KY/WV escort will initially stage at the Wendy’s/Sheetz gas station at Grayson, KY (exit #172 on I-64) at 2000/8:00PM, departing at 2015/8:15PM. Anticipate arrival at the Rest Area near Morehead, KY (exit 137) around 2100/9:00PM to await arrival of procession. We will make a gas stop in Morehead, then head back east to the Rest Area near milepost 139.
  This mission will terminate at the Henson Mortuary in Barboursville, WV, 6357 County Road 6/05, East Pea Ridge Rd, Huntington, WV, https://tinyurl.com/6sx9xrs  This is also the location of the funeral services on Monday, 5 Mar.


Times are not yet finalized, other than we know the flight will be arriving in the early EVENING hours. If escort is unable to be established from the airport, WV ASC-South, Buddy Palla will be riding over, possibly as far as Lexington, KY to meet and bring our Hero to Huntington, accompanied by his parents and fiancé`. Keep an eye on this thread for updated information, including staging times and location for tomorrow.

Funeral services will be on Monday, March 5, beginning at 1300 at the funeral home.

Staging will be at 1130 at the funeral home with flag line in place NLT 1200. This time could be moved back if the family is arriving earlier.  Escort to cemetery will be provided at the conclusion of services.


Huntington, WV 25705