Randy Griffith
rgriffith@tribdem.com
—
Clinging to one another for emotional support in gusty afternoon winds, seven family members stood on the airport tarmac as Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua T. Twigg was taken off a charter jet.
Silence was broken by a Marine helicopter, passing low across the airfield in honor of their fellow warrior.
A seven-member Marine honor guard marched from the MTT Aviation hangar to the gleaming white Falcon 20 business jet from Kalitta Charters.
Functioning as one, the Marines moved into position flanking Twigg’s casket.
Moments later, the casket carrying the son of Northern Cambria’s Randy B. and Terri Twigg was draped in the red, white and blue American flag he fought and died for.
Twigg, 21, died Thursday as a result of a hostile incident while supporting combat operations in Helmand province of Afghanistan. A fire team leader assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 7, I Marine Expeditionary Force Forward, Twigg joined the Marine Corps in July 2007.
His body arrived just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport, where about 50 people were on hand to welcome the fallen hero.
A line of about 25 motorcyclists with the Patriot Guard Riders lined the fence, saluting when the Marine honor guard slowly and respectfully placed Twigg’s casket into the gray hearse to begin the final leg of his journey home. The only sound was the plink of metal clips from three wind-whipped flags flying at half-staff in front of the airport’s main terminal.
With the casket secured inside the Moriconi Funeral Home hearse, family members and the Marine honor guard made their way back to government vans near the hangar and a procession formed along the terminal driveway. Soon, cruisers from Northern Cambria, Ebensburg, Adams Township and state police led the entourage of 18 motorcycles accompanying the hearse and vans east on Airport Road toward Route 219.
Final respects can be paid to Lance Cpl. Joshua T. Twigg from noon to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. today at Moriconi Funeral Home, Northern Cambria.
His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Nicholas Community Center, Nicktown, with full military honors.
Gov. Ed Rendell on Wednesday ordered all U.S. and Pennsylvania flags in the Capitol Complex and on state facilities in Cambria County to be flown at half-staff in honor of Twigg. Flags will remain at half-staff through sunset on Friday.
