Nov 16, 2009 5:55 pm US/Central
Pregnant Soldier's Body Returns From Fort Hood
Pfc. Francheska Velez Of Chicago Was Killed In Massacre
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Pfc. Francheska Velez was killed on the Fort Hood Army base Nov. 5, 2009.
AP
A hearse drove by a Chicago high school on Monday as a former student's classmates stood and saluted the fallen soldier.
Pfc. Francheska Velez, 21, died in the shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, earlier this month, leaving friends stunned and saddened.
Velez graduated from Kelvyn Park High School in 2006.
Velez served in Iraq, but lost her life on American soil when alleged gunman Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire, killing 13 people, including 12 soldiers.
Velez returned from Iraq because she was three months pregnant and by all accounts, excited about becoming a mother. She was scheduled to begin maternity leave next month.
Her body arrived this morning at Midway International Airport Monday morning and her friends and family paid tribute was paid as soon as the chartered jet landed.
State and Chicago police led the procession from the airport to the Montclair Lu-Kenya Funeral Home.
The procession left Midway around 10:10 a.m., and the hustle and bustle of the city came to a stop whenever the procession passed. It was made up of a motorcycle honor guard, with the Patriot Riders up front.
Along the way, private citizens saluted; so did firefighters at each firehouse along the way, standing at attention.
Miles north, a place Velez knew well awaited her arrival.
Kelvyn Park High School teacher Madelyn Ramos said, "I felt honored to know that she was my student."
Teachers and students gathered outside the Northwest Side school, where Velez was a member of the junior ROTC and where she told military recruiters that she wanted to join the Army.
Velez's close friend Melinda DeJesus said, "every time the Army would come, she would be the first one. She'd have lunch and talk to the recruiters about the Army."
DeJesus wore a sweatshirt bearing Velez's photo from graduation day in 2006.
Monday was a lesson for the current members of the junior ROTC.
Sgt. First Class Victor Simmons said, "We're actually trying to the teach them not only be a better person, but actually be selfless and look out for others before you look out after yourself."
Colon said Velez's dream teaches students to "always believe in your dreams. Keep it till the end, no matter what. It was a bad experience, but that was her dream. She accomplished her dream."
Velez's wake will be at the Montclair Lu-Kenya Funeral home at 6901 W. Belmont Av. on Wednesday. Her funeral is Thursday.
Twelve other people were killed in the attack, including 21-year-old Michael Pearson of Bolingbrook. Pearson was shot three times and died in surgery the night of the shooting. He was expecting to be deployed to Iraq in January after a trip home to Bolingbrook for the holidays.
CBS 2's Kris Habermehl contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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