Planeside honors scheduled for Rodgers

Posted on May 3, 2017

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Planeside honors are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Central Illinois Regional Airport as fallen U.S. Army Ranger Josh Rodgers’ casket is brought back to his hometown prior to Saturday’s visitation.

Bloomington Police are expected to release more details Wednesday about a procession for Rodgers that will begin after a celebration of life service at Eastview Christian Church, 1500 N. Airport Road, Normal. A public visitation is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Sgt. Rodgers, 22, and fellow Army Ranger, Sgt. Cameron Thomas of Kettering, Ohio, were killed by small arms fire while battling ISIS in Afghanistan last week.

Josh’s family told WJBC this week the military is keeping them updated on the status of the investigation into Rodgers’ death, amid reports he was killed by friendly fire.

Gov. Bruce Rauner said on WJBC he plans to attend Rodgers’ visitation.

“We need to cherish our veterans and our men and women in uniform,” Rauner told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn. “They are our heroes. They are the reason we are the greatest country on Earth.”

The public will be invited to line the streets for the procession that will begin after the Saturday service at Eastview and conclude at a yet-to-be disclosed cemetery.

WJBC will update this story.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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