Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― A local hero killed in the massacre at Fort Hood is now back in Chicago. A plane carrying the body of soldier Michael Pearson landed at Midway International Airport Thursday morning.

Pfc. Michael Pearson was a guitarist and sometime songwriter. In one lyric he wrote: "Everyone has a place in my story."

That was certainly the case Thursday as thousands of people turned out to honor the fallen soldier.

Dorothy Saintus was among the more than 3,600 students and faculty members who stood outside Bolingbrook High School to pay tribute to Pearson Thursday afternoon. She didn't know Pearson, but wept openly just the same.

"It's just very emotional and it's hard to think that, you know, today's the last day to say goodbye to their loved one," Saintus said.

Saintus hoped that her place in the silent honor guard outside his school brought some measure of comfort to the family he was forced to leave behind.

On his way to his old school, the body of the 21-year-old private was first driven down the Stevenson Expressway, where firefighters formed an honor guard on bridges spanning the highway.

Riders with the Patriot Guard Motorcycle Brigade helped lead the procession from the armory at Midway International Airport to the Dames Funeral Home in Joliet.

"It's one thing to know your son is going to war and you could lose him," said Patriot Guard Rider Mike O'Malley. "But for something as senseless as what happened at Fort Hood, it's triply hard for the family. I don't know how they can deal with it."

O'Malley was asked what impression they wanted to leave on Pearson's family and any other witnesses Thursday.

"There are a lot of people who care and appreciate what he did," O'Malley said.

On the way to the funeral home, the motorcade wound its way through the tree-covered streets of Pearson's hometown and past his Bolingbrook house.

Eventually, the rolling thunder that is the Patriot Guard could be heard at his old school, where Pearson was remembered for his smile and intelligence.

It was especially poignant for ROTC members, since Pearson was once part of the group.

"I feel honored to be following in his steps. And I feel sorry for his family and him," said sophomore and ROTC member Michael Guevara.

Senior Gerardo Avila said he plans to join the U.S. Armed Forces as Pearson did. He was glad to stand in line for Pearson Thursday.

"I felt proud. I felt really good to show that I care too," said avila.

That sense of empathy was what Thursday's silent tribute was all about; so that a family hurting as they prepare to say goodbye to their loved one can feel the love of an entire community.

"I hope in some small way Michael's parents will see that his life was important to more than just the family," said Valley View School District Superintendent Phil Schoffstall.

Patriot Rider Fred Vukadinovic said, ""It's respect for a fallen soldier. … A lot of us vets have been there, understand this. Someone needs to stand for these people so here we are."

Yet, they admitted it's a tough thing to do.

"You're dealing with parents whose children have died," Vukadinovic said. "Yeah, it's very taxing. It's hard job."

Pearson joined the Army a little more than a year ago. He was set to deploy to Afghanistan early next year, where he would have been defusing bombs. He had planned on being home for Christmas.

CBS 2's Susan Carlson contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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