LAKE COUNTY — Sgt. Richard Allen Essex, 23, knew what he wanted down to the last detail, should he die during his military service. He left specific instructions.
He wanted to be taken through his town of Kelseyville, past Kelseyville High School and through Lakeport.
“That”s why our route was so specific,” Ginny Craven of Operation Tango Mike, said. “He let us know.”
Essex”s mother Marion Hopkins said Tuesday following his procession, “Richard wanted this because if he didn”t come back alive he wanted people to know why he was over there (in the military in Afghanistan). He was fighting for their freedom.”
Essex, a 2008 Kelseyville High School graduate, died along with 10 others when the Black Hawk helicopter crashed in a Taliban-controlled area in the northern part of Kandahard Province on Aug. 16. Essex was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
From the airport in Santa Rosa all the way home to Lake County Sgt. Essex”s ultimate sacrifice was honored by people gathered roadside, at overpasses, in front of homes and businesses, with American flags waving.
“It reinforces what most of us have known all along,” Craven said. “This is a fantastic community that comes together in a time of need.”
Craven said it was extremely emotional and she was proud of the community.
“The tears were flowing. It was a reminder that while America is at the mall our soldiers are at war,” she said.
Lake County District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown left the Board of Supervisors meeting to be with his community during the procession.
“I needed to be in Kelseyville, Brown said. “The show of support was overwhelming and touching. I was standing at the intersection watching them coming over bridge. The feeling of seeing the procession was indescribable and extraordinary. The people and organizations there to help took action: K-CORPS, county roads crews, law enforcement and everybody pulled together to bring him home with honor.”
There will be a memorial on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Kelseyville High School.
“People who have time to come out are encouraged to come to the memorial,” Brown said. “There”s lots of seating. It”s good for the family to see the show of support.”
Brown said Ginny Craven deserves a lot of credit. “Working with her on this is a blessing. She is an asset to this community. She is a special person. This is her passion, helping people. It is her life.”
Thousands of people welcomed Essex home and showed gratitude for his mission.
See a video of the procession for Essex on the Record-Bee website at www.record-bee.com and photo galleries on the Record-Bee Facebook page.
(Photo by Ginny Craven)
