Community Welcomes PFC Barrett Austin Home

Community members turned out today to welcome home a soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice.

PFC. Barrett Austin, of Easley, died April 21 from injuries sustained while serving in Afghanistan.

Austin's body arrived at Greenville Spartanburg Airport this morning. Law enforcement and The Patriot Guard escorted the funeral procession as it made its way to Dillard Funeral Home.

Members of the "Bows for Barrett" Facebook page, which was begun soon after word of Barrett's injuries arrived and continued on after his death, kept each other updated on when the procession would begin and where it was after it started.

As the procession approached, it was greeting by residents saluting, waving American flags and holding homemade signs.

"Barrett Austin Will Never Be 4Gotten," read one.

"Freedom is Never Free," read another.

Many people strapped American flags to their cars. One woman had a sign taped to her car that said she had been the mother of a Navy Seal for 23 years. 

American flags lined the highway near Dillard Funeral Home and Hillcrest Memorial Park. Many businesses along the route had flags lowered to half-staff and signs thanking Barrett Austin and his family for his service and sacrifice. 

After the hearse arrive, the crowd watched in silence as the funeral detail escorted the casket into the funeral home.

As the crowd began to disperse, one man stood at the corner of Highway 8 and Bethlehem Ridge Road, a large American flag held solemly in one hand.

A service celebrating the life of PFC Barrett Austin will be held on Wednesday May 1, 2013 at 4:00 PM at Rock Springs Baptist Church with burial to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens with full military honors.

Visitation will be held 6pm-9pm Tuesday, April 30 at Rock Springs Baptist Church.

Sign the guestbook here.