Procession escorts war-hero home

A proud Watseka community, and many more, lined the travel route from Chicago’s Midway Airport (Friday) to the Knapp Funeral Home where U.S. Army Sgt. Jeremy Sherman’s body awaits a military funeral today (Mon 11.30). Sgt. Sherman’s funeral today is at the Trinity Church.

More than 2500 U.S. flags waved in Friday’s chilly air as hundreds of onlookers mourned during a long procession to honor the 23-year-old Sherman. The mourners gathered along Walnut Street and Route 24 thru Crescent City. Fire and police personnel and the public paid respects from I-57 overpasses all along the route from Chicago to Gilman and across highway 24.

The 23-year-old Sgt. Sherman, a 2015 graduate of WCHS, was one of five American soldiers and two other peacekeepers killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Egypt November 12.

Sherman’s memory honored by so many, including Iroquois County Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) Director Jennifer Ingram.

“It takes a lot of fortitude to sign that dotted line to serve your country. Then, to die while serving your country speaks volumes,” Ingram told WGFA News. “I can’t begin to think what this community means to Jeremy’s family.”

Jeremy joined the Army right out of high school, having talked about serving his country even in grade school – according to his family. He served in South Korea, Afghanistan and in Egypt. He was serving as a crew chief on the helicopter that crashed in Egypt November 12. The solider arrived in Egypt in October to serve along the Sinai Peninsula. He was studying to become a Black Hawk pilot.

Sherman leaves behind a wife, his parents and two siblings… and an entire proud community.

94.1 WGFA