There was a final farewell Thursday for a federal agent from our area killed overseas one week ago.
Chad Michael, 30, grew up in central Pennsylvania and went off to join the Drug Enforcement Agency or the DEA. He was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan last week, along with two other agents and several service members.
Michael left home to serve his country and his return to central Pennsylvania was a somber one.
Outside the Church of the Resurrection near Muncy state troopers stood at attention as the funeral for Special Agent Chad Michael began, not far from where Michael grew up.
Hundreds of federal agents, friends and family were there to remember a man who volunteered for a dangerous mission in Afghanistan. There were so many mourners, a second church was used to handle them.
Michael's body left the church on its way to his final resting place. Firefighters from Hughesville saluted the man who once served with their volunteer department as a teenager.
"Chad's always going to be in everybody's heart in this community that knew him. He was smiling from ear to ear all the time. That's the kind of guy he was," said Hughesville Fire Chief Steve Steiger.
The funeral procession stretched for at least a mile out of Muncy and into the Hughesville area. Once at the cemetery, Michael's flag-draped casket was taken to the grave site.
Those who knew him said the Hughesville native's goal in life was to be on the front lines to make a difference.
Michael joined the Drug Enforcement Agency in 2004 and volunteered in September of this year to go to Afghanistan to combat the drug trade there.
"That's what he wanted to do in life and he pursued it as a career. That's what he wanted to do, he had his mind set," Steiger added.
Late last month Michael was one of three DEA agents killed in a helicopter crash in western Afghanistan.
"It's a tremendous showing. They're a great group of people. I support them 100 percent. They're doing for this country what we need," said Chief Steiger.
Among the hundreds attending the funeral service was U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Chad Michael is survived by his mother, stepfather, brother and a fiancé.
Chad Michael, 30, grew up in central Pennsylvania and went off to join the Drug Enforcement Agency or the DEA. He was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan last week, along with two other agents and several service members.
Michael left home to serve his country and his return to central Pennsylvania was a somber one.
Outside the Church of the Resurrection near Muncy state troopers stood at attention as the funeral for Special Agent Chad Michael began, not far from where Michael grew up.
Hundreds of federal agents, friends and family were there to remember a man who volunteered for a dangerous mission in Afghanistan. There were so many mourners, a second church was used to handle them.
Michael's body left the church on its way to his final resting place. Firefighters from Hughesville saluted the man who once served with their volunteer department as a teenager.
"Chad's always going to be in everybody's heart in this community that knew him. He was smiling from ear to ear all the time. That's the kind of guy he was," said Hughesville Fire Chief Steve Steiger.
The funeral procession stretched for at least a mile out of Muncy and into the Hughesville area. Once at the cemetery, Michael's flag-draped casket was taken to the grave site.
Those who knew him said the Hughesville native's goal in life was to be on the front lines to make a difference.
Michael joined the Drug Enforcement Agency in 2004 and volunteered in September of this year to go to Afghanistan to combat the drug trade there.
"That's what he wanted to do in life and he pursued it as a career. That's what he wanted to do, he had his mind set," Steiger added.
Late last month Michael was one of three DEA agents killed in a helicopter crash in western Afghanistan.
"It's a tremendous showing. They're a great group of people. I support them 100 percent. They're doing for this country what we need," said Chief Steiger.
Among the hundreds attending the funeral service was U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Chad Michael is survived by his mother, stepfather, brother and a fiancé.
