LIVERPOOL --
Family, friends and community members came together on Thursday to say goodbye to a Fort Drum soldier.
Calling hours were held from 1-5 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Liverpool for Army Chief Warrant Officer Brad Gaudet.
"We've hunted together--his father in law and I, and his uncle," said Al Capria of Liverpool. "I feel you should come (out)."
"We're going to wrap our arms around them--not in the days and weeks to come--but in the months and years to come," said Lt. Col. Erick Sweet of the 10th Combat Division.
Gaudet's body arrived in Central New York at Hancock Airport in Syracuse around 10:30 Wednesday morning.
A handful of people lined the streets to watch the body driven to The Maurer Funeral Home in Liverpool. The body will stay there until tomorrow when there will be calling hours at St. Joseph the Worker Church.
People we spoke with say Gaudet's death should remind everyone of the harsh reality of war. "I think he needs to be honored for all the good that he's done, " says Sharon Carrow, of Liverpool.
Since the news of his death, the Liverpool community has stepped up for the family. Some local businesses have provided food while Elmcrest Elementary School has set up a memorial fund for Gaudet's infant daughter, Addyson. To donate, make checks payable to:
Elmcrest Elementary PTO
350 Woodspath Road
Liverpool, New York 13090
Be sure to note "Addy's Fund".
Original story:
The remains of a soldier killed in Afghanistan will return to Central New York this morning.
The body of Army Chief Warrant Officer Bradley Gaudet is scheduled to arrive at the Air National Guard base at Hancock Airport at 10:10 a.m. A procession of police cars and a military honor guard will then escort Gaudet's body to Maurer Funeral home in the Village of Liverpool. Gaudet's wife Ginny is from Liverpool, and her parents Ed and Judy Van Marter still live there.
On Thursday, family, friends and community members will come together to honor Gaudet's life.
Calling hours will be held from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Liverpool, followed by a prayer service and short video from soldiers in Afghanistan. The burial will take place in Texas, where Gaudet grew up.
Gaudet died June 5th when his OH-58 Kiowa helicopter crashed in Khost province. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division. White was from Fort Collins, Colorado.
He made it home last month in time for the birth of his daughter, Addyson Elizabeth, who was born at Crouse Hospital. Gaudet was on his third tour of duty when he was killed.
