By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON, Maine — A small, chartered jet screamed across the blue skies of northern Maine before setting down at Houlton International Airport Monday.
Sgt. Aaron Henderson was home.
Henderson, 33, of East Hodgdon died Oct. 2 at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan after injuries he sustained from an improvised explosive device during a tour of duty. A contingent of family members gathered at the airport to welcome Henderson home.
His body arrived via a chartered jet and was escorted through town with a motorcade featuring multiple law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, military personnel in private vehicles, family members and motorcycles ridden by the United Veterans Motorcycle Club. Employees at Smith & Wesson lined Airport Drive for the start of the processional. Members of the United Veterans Motorcycle Club held flags on both sides of the road as the hearse passed before joining the processional on their bikes.
The processional exited Houlton’s Industrial Park, traveled along Interstate 95 down North Street, through downtown, up Main St to the White Settlement Road, where it passed by the Henderson homestead before continuing on through Hodgdon and back to Bowers Funeral Home.
Spectators gathered along the North Road, while more still congregated in downtown Houlton to pay their respects. The Houlton Fire Department draped a massive flag from their ladder truck across the intersection of Main and Military streets, while officers stood at attention.
A 1997 graduate of Hodgdon High School, Henderson joined the U.S. Army in August 2000. He served with several units, including an overseas assignment to Japan. In 2005, he went through Special Forces Assessment and Selection, graduating from the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2007.
Henderson’s life will be celebrated 2 p.m. Wednesday (today) with a memorial service at the Houlton High School gymnasium. Calling hours will take place from noon to 2 p.m. The Rev. Randall Burns will officiate the ceremony, which will be followed by an interment with full military honors at the East Hodgdon Cemetery. After the interment, a reception with light refreshments will be held at the Hodgdon High School gymnasium.
Schools in SAD 29 and SAD 70 will dismiss their students early to allow staff members to attend Henderson’s service.
On Tuesday, Governor Paul LePage ordered that all flags be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset Wednesday in Henderson’s honor. Sen. Olympia Snowe, Rep. Mike Michaud and First Lady Ann LePage are among those expected to attend the ceremony. Sen. Susan Collins was not expected to attended, but will send a representative on her behalf.
