Family says bringing fallen soldier home is an emotional process

BERNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Taylor family in Berne has been experiencing the very tough process of bringing their fallen soldier home from Afghanistan.

Army Specialist Nick Taylor will be making his way home this Sunday at 2:00 p.m. He will arrive to the 122nd Air National Guard in Fort Wayne before arriving home to Berne.

NewsChannel 15 spoke to Marc Pape, father of Kevin Pape who died in Afghanistan two years ago, to see what a family goes through when a family is notified when their loved one has died in the line of duty. He said it starts with a knock on the door they hope to never hear.

"It starts with a very sad moment when you open the door and the two soldiers and they're dressed in uniform and there to inform you that your son has passed," said Marc Pape.

He said after the family has been notified of their loved one's death, they head to Dover Air Force Base to see their soldier brought back to American soil. When they do arrive, Pape said every family feels like something has been stripped away.

"The thing we didn't particularly like, and I guess this is for all families, that you're not allowed to even touch the casket," he said.

Pape said during this time, family and friends will be the most important people to help the Taylor family start the healing process.

Specialist Taylor will receive a police escort from the National Guard Base. From there, he'll be driven to Berne, using Ferguson Road, US 27 and State Road 218. Taylor's viewing will be Monday, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. The funeral is Tuesday at 11 a.m. Both are at South Adams High School.