Sgt. Lockett procession passes through Ellijay

It was only a minute. It was only a moment. He was one man. He was a soldier.

Gilmer County paused this afternoon as a procession passed taking Sgt. Christopher J. Lockett, USMC, to Murphy, North Carolina. Having passed away on January 7, 2019 at the age of 26, Lockett is finally coming home from his service.

It wasn’t a lonely drive, however, as a theme spread across several communities. Citizens lined roadways as police stopped traffic for the procession. After landing in Atlanta at about 2 p.m. today, the procession traveled to Townson-Rose Funeral Home in Murphy.

It is a long trip home. Organizers had the citizens who lined roadways to bring American Flags to show support and love for this one who served. Some citizens present at the procession called it “moving and meaningful that people would do this for a man they don’t know.”

Flags of all sizes were present at the passing. Citizens were seen intersections and all the way from the red light in front of Longhorn Steakhouse to the intersection of 515 and 1st Avenue near Hardee’s.

Though it didn’t take long for the procession to pass through, Gilmer gave a special thank you to a young man who gave of himself in service. Law Enforcement and Emergency Responders saluted as civilians held flags and stood silent in a solemn send off to a soldier.

He wasn’t from Gilmer, he wasn’t even from Georgia, but he was honored as expected of one who serves nobly.

It was more than a minute, it was the moment. It was more than a man, it was a soldier.