A Local Hero Came Back Home

As I drove around the local area on errands today I encountered the thousands who came to say farewell to a fallen soldier. Here is his story from the Daily News. How many more will come home via Dover?

IRON MOUNTAIN — More than 1,000 people filed through the Michigan National Guard Kingsford Armory Sunday to pay their final respects to the Dickinson County soldier who was killed in Iraq.

Local law enforcement officials conducted traffic control on Carpenter Avenue throughout the afternoon Sunday as friends, family and private citizens honored the Dickinson County hero.

Sgt. First Class James Priestap, 39, of Hardwood was killed by enemy gunfire in Baghdad on Thanksgiving Day.

Priestap and 59 other members of the 46th MP Unit out of Kingsford were deployed to Iraq on July 9.

Priestap, a 1985 graduate of North Dickinson High School, was married to Connie (Harder) Priestap.

A public visitation was held from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to noon today at the Kingsford Armory.

The full military honors funeral was scheduled for noon today at the Kingsford Armory with the sergeant’s uncle, Pastor Terry Priestap, and Pastor Carl Hammer of Norway officiating.

Burial with full military honors will be at Foster City Cemetery.

Sgt. Priestap’s body was flown back to the area from Dover, Del., on Saturday.

The North Dickinson County School District was closed today to allow friends and family to attend the funeral