Md. soldier to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery

SALISBURY, Md. — A Maryland soldier killed in Afghanistan last month will be laid to rest during a public military funeral service at Arlington National Cemetery.

At 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, the Virginia cemetery will welcome Army Sgt. Maj. Wardell Turner among its rows of graves honoring those who sacrificed their lives for their country.

The Nanticoke, Md., native was killed the morning of Nov. 24, by a roadside bomb, along with Ohio native Spc. Joseph Riley, while the two were serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. Turner was part of an American-led mission that sought to train the country's security forces.

Turner, 48, will be buried with full military honors for his 20-plus years of service in the U.S. Army, according to cemetery spokesman Monte Johnson.

While the event will barely break a half-hour it will be a true ceremony, the first since Turner's remains were flown into Dover Air Force Base in late November.

Seven horses will carry Turner's remains in a caisson, a 2,500-pound wagon used specifically to transport the bodies of presidents and servicemen killed in action. An honor guard of no less than two members of the Armed Forces will lead the caisson to his final resting place.

Turner's body will be escorted to the gravesite and a bugler will play taps, the traditionally somber music piece whose first few memorable notes also sync with the accompanying lyric Day is Done. An American flag will be folded in half and presented to the next of kin; in this case, Turner's wife, Katherine.

While there will be only 11 seats for immediate family, the public will be permitted to view the entirety of the graveside service.

"They need to be respective of the family," Johnson said. "And stay to the back of the service."

A HOMETOWN HERO

For Turner's family and friends, the funeral will signify the ceremonious end to the soldier's decorated career.

Since January 1993, Turner has served in duties as far as Bosnia and Iraq to as close as Fort Jackson, S.C. He served in several military police units during that span, most recently in the 720th Military Police Battalion. He achieved the rank of sergeant major in July 2013.

During his time in the service, he received numerous awards, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal.

He arrived at Fort Drum in northern New York in July 2013 before being deployed to Afghanistan in July 2014, according to a release by the base's public affairs office.

Spokeswoman Julie Halpin said the base was planning to hold a remembrance ceremony in early January for those who served alongside Turner.

Turner is remembered by his Wicomico County, Md., friends and family as a stoic and quiet child who grew up seemingly knowing his destiny was to join the military.

He graduated from James M. Bennett High School in 1984 and was a member of the 1982 and 1983 championship football teams. Both those who taught and coached Turner describe him as someone who never boasted and was always willing to help others.

His cousin, Leroy Turner, recalled Turner "lived and breathed" the military.

"He was a soldier," his cousin said. "He lived it and breathed it. He loved serving his country."

When he heard that his "big brother" was dead, Leroy Turner was shocked. He cried. A lot.

But: "In my heart, I'm at peace with it," he said, "because I knew he loved what he was doing."

Contributing: Jeremy Cox, The (Salisbury, Md.) Daily Times.