Soldier killed in Afghanistan back home in Rantoul
The Rantoul community welcomed Sgt. Christopher Rudzinski home Sunday.
Sgt. Rudzinski, 28, who served in the Army, died Oct. 16 from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while on patrol near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
It marked his fourth deployment to an area of conflict. He previously had served one tour of duty in Kosovo and two in Iraq. Sgt. Rudzinski was assigned to a military police brigade based at Fort Stewart, Ga.
A flight bearing his body touched down at Willard Airport, Savoy, about 10 a.m. Sunday.
Sgt. Rudzinski traveled the remainder of the way home in a motorcade that included numerous vehicles from area police and fire departments, veterans' representatives and motorcycle-driving members of the Patriot Guard.
In Rantoul, the motorcade headed east along U.S. 136 to Lux Memorial Chapel. The sides of the approximately 2-mile route were lined with more than 500 American flags.
Members of the Patriot Guard Riders, the Rantoul police department, Champaign and Rantoul fire departments and others wait Sunday as the hearse carrying the casket of Sgt. Christopher Rudzinski, a U.S. soldier who was killed in Afghanistan, arrives at Rantoul Township High School for a four-hour visitation. A memorial service followed later in the evening. More photos are available at www.news-gazette.com. By Heather Coit
The motorcade passed beneath a large American flag held between two ladder firetrucks at the Tanner Street intersection.
Sgt. Rudzinski's family greeted the public at a four-hour visitation Sunday afternoon at Rantoul Township High School. An estimated 1,500 people attended.
A memorial service followed at the high school.
About 50 volunteers placed the more than 500 American flags along the motorcade route Saturday afternoon. Larry Eckhardt of Little York, owner of the flags, spearheaded the effort.
"The town was fantastic," Eckhardt said of the volunteer effort. "It went real smoothly."
Eckhardt said he has headed flag-planting efforts to honor fallen military personnel in several Illinois communities.
"The south part of Illinois (south of Peoria) is really fantastic," he said. "They really come out" to help.
Several hundred members of the public lined the motorcade route to pay tribute.
Laurie Waters of Rantoul said she did so "to honor this man who served our country. Our whole family is career military. I know the life and the sacrifices that they go through. I'm here to honor him and his family."
Dot Griffin of Rantoul held a small American flag as she waited for the motorcade.
She said she attended "because I think he deserves our respect, our time.
"This is just a small thing," she said. "He gave the big thing."
At Sunday evening's memorial service, the Rev. Stanley Malinowski said the turnout showed the love and concern that the community held for the Rudzinski family, which includes his widow, Caroline, and their 1-year-old son, Ryan.
Malinowski said he had known Sgt. Rudzinski for several years, and he said tales of the sergeant's service reflected the kind of man he was.
Aaron Runyon, a friend of Sgt. Rudzinski's, said the two grew up across the street from one another.
Runyon said when the two were together, the topic invariably turned to either flying or cars.
He said Sgt. Rudzinski had an adventurous spirit, and Runyon told about accompanying the Rudzinski family on his first visit to Disney World, where his friend had been before. He said Sgt. Rudzinski had mapped out what rides they would visit.
To illustrate Sgt. Rudzinski's daring nature, he said his friend wanted to visit the hair-raising Space Mountain ride first. While Runyon was scared to death, Sgt. Rudzinski had the time of his life.
He said Sgt. Rudzinski also had a selfless side.
"Chris shared with people who were in need," he said. "I'm grateful to this town for practicing hospitality and love to his family."
A funeral Mass at St. Malachy Catholic Church and graveside service at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery for Sgt. Rudzinski were scheduled today.
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