Canton area residents joined veterans and Patriot Guard members today to welcome home a fallen soldier.
Army Private First Class Christopher Bartkiewicz (Bark–ko–witz) was killed in Baghdad September 30th.

Patriot Guard riders escorted the body of Army Private First Class Christopher Bartkiewicz home from the air national guard base in Bartonville to Canton Thursday morning.
The 25–year–old Bartkiewicz was killed in Iraq September 30th.

"It's important in the fact that we should have learned one lesson in Vietnam and how disrespectful we were to all the Vietnam Veterans and my generation on up. So it's very important that we show respect, not only to veterans who've given their life but to all veterans," Patriot Rider Dave Greenlief said.

It was a sad, solemn and patriotic occasion at Jones Park on the square.
Several people held flags as the Canton High School Choir sang songs.

"My daughter was in the military for 18 years as well so I know the support the entire family gives to help in this cause.
We're losing these young men and women all across the United States and it really hits when it comes to a small town like Canton," Canton Resident Bonnie Stine said.

David Kuchan said, "I've known the family for years and I'm a former soldier myself so just came out of respect".

Bartkiewicz lived near Canton in Dunfermline with his wife and children before being stationed in Germany and then deployed to Iraq.
He died from wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his patrol in Baghdad.

Bartkiewicz's visitation is scheduled from 10 until 11 o'clock Saturday morning at Murphy–Sedgwick Memorial Home in Canton and the funeral is private.