Remains Of Killed Ohio Navy Medic Arrive In Ohio Wednesday

CLEVELAND — The remains of slain U.S. Navy medic Maxton W. Soviak will arrive in Cleveland on Wednesday morning.

Soviak, 22, was killed during terrorist attacks at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan on Aug. 26. His body will arrive in Cleveland at 10:25 a.m., the U.S. Navy announced.

Soviak, of Berlin Heights, was remembered as a friendly, well-liked guy who amused others and had been a member of the state champion wrestling team and made the final four football playoffs two years in a row. He had 12 brothers and sisters.

"Max was a wonderful son who loved his family, his community, and was proud to serve in the U.S. Navy," where he planned to spend his career, his family said in a statement. “Words cannot express how heartbroken we are with this news and we will miss Max tremendously.”

A private procession will start at Cleveland Hopkins Airport and will move west down the Ohio Turnpike to U.S. Route 250 at Exit 118, where a public procession honoring Soviak will begin.

“All members of the community are invited and encouraged to pay their respects to Corpsman Soviak and his family along the entire public processional route," said Erie County Sheriff Paul Sigsworth.

The public procession will move down U.S. Route 250, from the Strecker Road intersection, to State Route 113 east. The procession will move through Milan, passing Edison High School, where Soviak graduated in 2017, then head north on Berlin Road to West Main Street in Berlin Heights, east on W. Main Street to South Street, south on South Street to the Morman-Hinman-Tanner Funeral Home, where the procession ends.

Members of the public procession should proceed past the funeral home. Only official vehicles will be allowed to park at the funeral home, the U.S. Navy said in a news release.

Here's how those participating in the public procession should organize themselves, according to Sigsworth:

• Veteran Service Organizations with motorcycle escort units are asked to stage at the commercial vehicle transfer lot located near the Ohio Turnpike’s Toll Booths at Exit 118 and U.S. Route 250 no later than 11:30 a.m.
• All public safety vehicles are asked to stage at the CertainTeed Corporation at 11519 U.S. Route 250 no later than 11:30 a.m.
• Members of the community are encouraged to stage along the processional route no later than 11:30 a.m.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this report.