A Hero's Final Homecoming: Body of Fallen Soldier Escorted into Yorktown

Members of police and fire departments escorted , 23, on his final homecoming to Yorktown, a week after he was killed in Afghanistan.

His family followed behind. 

"It's a tremendous honor to be able to provide at least some conciliation to the family and give Private Fahey the absolutely proper homecoming a hero deserves," said Yorktown police Officer Paul Dillon, who was assigned to a detail of the procession.

"He essentially rides home for the last time completely undisturbed," he said. 

The escort began at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and local agencies picked up the procession in New York City at the Major Deegan Expressway with multiple EMS agencies, fire and police departments involved.

Westchester County, the town of New Castle, Mount Kisco, the village of Ossining, Stamford, Conn. and Yorktown police departments, and Lake Mohegan Fire Department and ambulance corps finished the escort at the Yorktown Funeral Home in Shrub Oak. Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps were also involved in the procession.

Along the way, onlookers stood on the side of the roads saluting and holding American flags. 

"It's an honor to be able to be a part of that and it's so nice that the communities as a whole support this young soldier who died a hero," Dillon said. 

Yorktown resident Larry Jensen was standing guard outside the Yorktown Funeral Home, holding a flag to show respect for what Fahey had sacrificed. 

"The least we can do is show respect to the family and for them to know that he did not die in vain," Jensen said. 

David Richard Fahey, Jr. was serving in the U.S. Army when he was killed in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan on Feb. 28. His insurgents attacked his unit in Kandahar using an improvised explosive device after a morning patrol. 

He was born in Norwalk, Conn. His uncle and aunt Tom and Fran Fahey, adopted him and his siblings, Phyllis and Nicholas, when he was a child. The couple also has four biological children — Brianna, Tyler, Samantha and Blake. His cousins became his siblings. 

David Fahey's friends said throughout last week  as a man who was able to make people smile, bring laughter into every situation, and as someone people could count on.

He was assigned to the 170th Military Police Company, 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, at Joint Base Lewis McChord. His unit deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in June, 2010. He was due to return from Afghanistan in June and wanted to become a police officer. 

Dan O'Brien, Jr., a good friend of Fahey's, said it was his "calling" to serve in the army. Fahey was  to Army Specialist. He has been awarded the Bronze Star for service, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Action Badge. 

The wake will be held at the , 945 East Main St. in Shrub Oak. Viewing hours are 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday at , 137 Moseman Ave. in Yorktown Heights. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Cemetery in Putnam Valley.

Click on the video to see the procession.