Omaha announces procession for Master Sgt. Noah Tietjens

WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON. I’M WAVERLE MONROE. WE ARE COMING TO THE ER AS WE AWAIT THE PROCESSION OF MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. WE HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT THE PLANE HAS LANDED AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD. BELLEVUE NATIVE WAS SERVING IN THE ARMY RESERVES IN KUWAIT WHEN THE WAR WITH IRAN BEGAN. HE WAS KILLED IN A DRONE ATTACK. THE 42 YEAR OLD WAS IN A LARGE TRAILER LIKE STRUCTURE WITH SEVERAL OTHER SOLDIERS THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY A CONCRETE WALL. THAT ATTACK WAS QUICK, AND SOURCES SAY THERE WERE NO WARNINGS GIVEN TO ALERT THE TROOPS TO EVACUATE. STRUCTURE WAS NOT PROTECTED FROM ABOVE. FIVE OTHERS WERE KILLED IN THE ATTACK, INCLUDING TWO SOLDIERS FROM DES MOINES. THEIR SERGEANT, DECLAN CODY AND MAJOR GEOFFREY O’BRIEN. THREE OTHERS ARE SERGEANT FIRST CLASS NICOLE AMOUR OF MINNESOTA. CAPTAIN CODY CORK OF FLORIDA AND CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER THREE ROBERT MORRISON OF VIRGINIA. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK OUT FROM OUR LEWIS AND CLARK MONUMENT CAMERA OVERLOOKING EPPLEY AIRFIELD. LIKE I SAID. THAT PLANE CONFIRMED. THAT IS JUST LANDED CARRYING THE BODY OF NOAH TIETJENS. NOW WE DO HAVE TEAM COVERAGE ACROSS THE ROUTE. FIRST WE WANT TO GO OUT TO KETV NEWSWATCH 7 PETE CUDDIHY WHO IS JUST OUTSIDE EPPLEY AIRFIELD PETE, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW? YEAH. WAVERLE WE’RE AT STEWART’S EXPRESSWAY AND LINDBERGH DRIVE RIGHT NOW. PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO MAKE THEIR WAY OUT HERE. I WOULD SAY IN TOTAL THERE’S PROBABLY ABOUT 2025 PEOPLE. AND THERE’S TWO FLAGS THAT ARE BEING HELD UP RIGHT NOW BY THE OMAHA FIRE DEPARTMENT. PEOPLE ARE CONTINUING TO GATHER AS WE ARE WAITING FOR THE PROCESSION TO START, AND IT’S GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY DOWN STORZ EXPRESSWAY, ENDING AT THE FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. AGAIN, WE’RE WAITING FOR THEM TO MAKE THEIR WAY OUT HERE. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE WE’VE GOT A TRUCK COMING THROUGH WITH A COUPLE AMERICAN FLAGS, BUT WE’LL BE OUT HERE BRINGING YOU LIVE UPDATES AS THE PROCESSION BEGINS. BACK TO YOU, WAVERLE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT, PETE. SO THE ROUTE STARTS AT LINDBERGH DRIVE AND STORES EXPRESSWAY. MOTORCADE IS GOING TO THEN TRAVEL WEST ON STORZ TO SORENSEN PARKWAY. SORENSEN PARKWAY IS THE LONGEST STRETCH THAT’S GOING TO TRAVEL FROM 30TH TO 56TH. THEN THE MOTORCADE IS GOING TO TRAVEL NORTH ON 56TH UNTIL THEY REACH FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. SO OPD IS ASKING THAT PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT ALONG THE ROUTE BE MINDFUL, NEED TO ASK PERMISSION TO PARK IN PRIVATE BUSINESS LOTS. DON’T BLOCK ANY DRIVEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS OR MOTORCADE ITSELF. MASTER SERGEANT TIETJENS GRADUATED FROM BELLEVUE WEST HIGH SCHOOL IN 2001. HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY RESERVES IN 2006 AS A WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC. HE WAS THEN DEPLOYED TO KUWAIT IN 2009 AND AGAIN IN 2019. TIETJENS RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS OF DECORATIONS, INCLUDING THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL, ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL AND SEVERAL OTHERS. TIETJENS WAS PROMOTED POSTHUMOUSLY FROM SERGEANT FIRST CLASS TO MASTER SERGEANT WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS AFTER LEAVING EPPLEY AIRFIELD, THE PROCESSION IS GOING TO TRAVEL TO STORES EXPRESSWAY AND THAT’S WHERE WE’LL FIND KETV NEWSWATCH 7 SAMANTHA PASTORINO ON FLORENCE BOULEVARD. YEAH, WE’RE REALLY. I’M ON THE FLORENCE BOULEVARD BRIDGE RIGHT ABOVE STORZ EXPRESSWAY, WHERE THAT PROCESSION IS GOING TO FOLLOW. PEOPLE HERE ARE LINING UP ALL READY TO HONOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. NOW, TIETJENS WAS BORN IN EL PASO, TEXAS, BUT HE DID GROW UP IN BELLEVUE, GRADUATING FROM BELLEVUE WEST. LIKE YOU SAID, PEOPLE KNEW TIETJENS ALL SAY HE WAS EXTREMELY INVOLVED IN THE BELLEVUE COMMUNITY. HE WAS EVEN A FIRST DEGREE BLACK BELT AT A MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO THERE. WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS DEATH CAME ON MARCH 1ST, THAT STUDIO ANNOUNCED THIS QUOTE. THEY SAID, TIETJENS, QUOTE, LIVED THE MARTIAL ARTS CODE. HE DID NOT SIMPLY WEAR BLACK BELT. HE LIVED IT. IT SAID HE LED WITH INTEGRITY. HE TRAINED WITH PURPOSE. HE TAUGHT WITH HUMILITY, IT SAID ON THE MAT. HE TRAINED AS A MARTIAL ARTIST IN UNIFORM. HE SERVED AS A SOLDIER. IN BOTH ROLES, HE CARRIED THE SAME VALUES HONOR, DISCIPLINE, SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO OTHERS. NOW, A MESSAGE FROM TIETJENS OBITUARY SAYS HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, THEIR SON, HIS PARENTS AND THEIR BROTHERS. IT SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TIETJENS STORY, SAYING HE GREW UP IN A PROUD MILITARY FAMILY. HIS FATHER WAS IN THE AIR FORCE AND THE ARMY RESERVES, IT SAID AFTER HE WATCHED BOTH HIS BROTHER’S DEPLOYMENTS, HE EMBRACED HIS CALLING TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY, ULTIMATELY ENLISTING AS A 23 YEAR OLD IN 2006 IN THE ARMY, LIKE YOU SAID. NOAH TIETJENS WAS POSTHUMOUSLY PROMOTED FROM SERGEANT FIRST CLASS TO MASTER SERGEANT AFTER HIS DEATH ON MARCH 1ST. NOW AGAIN, WE’RE ON THE BRIDGE OF FLORENCE, RIGHT ABOVE THE EXPRESSWAY WHERE THE PROCESSION WILL FOLLOW. PEOPLE HERE CONTINUING TO LINE UP TO SUPPORT AND HONOR HIM. WAVERLE, BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SAMANTHA. NOW, NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS ARE REACTING TO THE NEWS OF MASTER SERGEANT TIETJENS DEATH SHORTLY AFTER IT HAPPENED. SO U.S. SENATOR DEB FISCHER WROTE HIS COURAGE AND SACRIFICE AND SERVICE TO OUR NATION IS GOING TO BE REMEMBERED OR FOREVER HONORED. AND U.S. SENATOR PETE RICKETTS SAYS, MY HEART AND PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY AS THEY MOURN THE LOSS OF THEIR HEROIC SON. WE MAY ALWAYS REMEMBER AND HONOR THE SACRIFICES MADE BY NOAH TIETJENS AND THE LEGIONS FAMILY. CONGRESSMAN MIKE FLOOD WROTE IT AS A SOBERING REMINDER THAT OUR TROOPS ARE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE AS AMERICA TRIES TO STOP IRAN FROM BECOMING A NUCLEAR POWER. CONGRESSMAN DON BACON SAID HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY AND PROTECTING THE FREEDOMS WE HOLD DEAR. FINALLY, GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN HIM IN PRAYER, ADDING, NOAH STEPPED UP TO SERVE AND DEFEND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM FOREIGN ENEMIES AROUND THE WORLD. A SACRIFICE WE MUST NEVER FORGET. AND JUST DAYS AFTER TIETJENS DIED IN THE ATTACK IN KUWAIT, HIS BODY WAS BROUGHT BACK TO DOVER AIR FORCE BASE IN DELAWARE. THE PRESIDENT. SOME. IOWA AND NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS WERE PRESENT FOR THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER OF JENS SARGENT, OAKLAND CODY AND MAJOR JEFFREY O’BRIEN OF IOWA. MASTER SERGEANT TIETJENS HAS CONNECTIONS TO NEBRASKA. MANY OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY STILL LIVE THERE. WE WENT TO ORD AND MANY TELL US THE TOWN IS SUPPORTING THE FAMILY THROUGH FLOWERS, CARDS AND ANY HELP THEY CAN GIVE. THEY TOLD OUR REPORTER, JOHN GRINVALDS THEY ARE A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY AND BANDING TOGETHER AS BEST AS THEY CAN. WE TOLD YOU A LITTLE BIT AGO, BUT THE LONGEST STRETCH OF THE PROCESSION FOLLOWS SORENSEN PARKWAY TO NORTH 56 AND WE HAVE KETV MAT MADISON PERALEZ THERE. MADISON WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? WAVERLE YEAH, I’M AT 30 OR 30TH AND SORENSEN AND THERE ARE PEOPLE JUST LINING THE STREET RIGHT NOW. ABOUT 30 MINUTES AGO, WE STARTED SEEING THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE FILE THROUGH HANDING OUT AMERICAN FLAGS, EVEN BRINGING FLAGS OF THEIR OWN CARS WITH FLAGS STRAPPED ON THE BACK. EVEN PEOPLE BRINGING SIGNS. YOU SEE, EVEN KIDS ARE OUT HERE ON THIS DAY TO WAIT FOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. PROCESSION, ARRIVAL. AND IT HAS JUST BEEN A SOMBER DAY ALREADY. PEOPLE ARE WAITING HERE PATIENTLY AND QUIETLY AS THEY ARE AGAIN AWAITING FOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS ARRIVAL. WE ALSO SPOKE WITH SOMEONE HERE TODAY WHO KNOWS THEIR FAMILY AS WELL AND IS HERE IN SUPPORT. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR MILITARY FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THE TIETJENS FAMILY, FOR THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE AND HONOR THAT HE WAS DOING TO SERVE OUR COUNTRY. YEAH. AND DID YOU DID YOU KNOW THE FAMILY OR DO YOU HAVE FAMILY THAT SERVED IN THE MILITARY? MY FATHER SERVED IN THE MILITARY. AND WHILE I DIDN’T KNOW NOAH, I DID KNOW HIS WIFE AND WHAT DOES THIS MOMENT SIGNIFY TO YOU BEING OUT HERE ABOUT TO WATCH THE PROCESSION? JUST BEING RESPECTFUL AND SHOWING THAT WE CARE. WE CARE ABOUT THE FAMILY. WE CARE ABOUT MASTER SERGEANT HIGGINS AND HIS WIFE AND FAMILY. AND JUST SHOWING THE FAMILY OUR SUPPORT. WE EVEN HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE BELLEVUE COMMUNITY COMING OUT HERE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR 42 YEAR OLD MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. AGAIN, WE ARE STILL ALL WAITING HERE, PATIENTLY TRYING TO STAY IN THE SHADE AS WELL AS WE ARE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE ARRIVAL AND FOR THE PROCESSION TO START. BACK TO YOU WAVERLE. YEAH, MADISON JUST KIND OF SHOWS HOW CLOSE KNIT THE METRO CAN BE WHEN KNOWING PEOPLE WHO ARE OBVIOUSLY SERVING OUR COUNTRY OVERSEAS. WELL, THE PROCESSION ALL HEADS TO FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR MASTER SERGEANT T JONES. KETV NEWSWATCH 7 MADDIE AUGUSTINE IS THERE AND JOINS US LIVE. HEY WAVERLE, LIKE YOU SAID, WE ARE RIGHT OUTSIDE THE GATES OF FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY RIGHT NOW, AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN GATHERING HERE SLOWLY ALL MORNING AND AFTERNOON. THERE’S ABOUT 100 PEOPLE HERE WITH THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS SETTING UP INSIDE THE GATES RIGHT NOW FOR THE FLAG LINE TO WELCOME MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES WHEN HE GETS HERE. AND I SPOKE TO A FEW PEOPLE, ALL OF THEM SAY THEY COME FROM MILITARY FAMILIES, SO THEY KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SHOW THIS SUPPORT. AND ONE WOMAN ACTUALLY IS HERE WITH HER NANNY, FRAZIER. HE’S THREE YEARS OLD, AND HE GAVE ME THIS AMERICAN FLAG. AND THIS JUST SYMBOLIZES, SHE SAYS, THAT SUPPORT. ANOTHER WOMAN I SPOKE TO IS PART OF THE 50 MILE MARCH, AND SHE SAYS SHE GREW UP IN A MILITARY FAMILY AS WELL. AND SHE JUST WANTS TO KNOW, LET THE FAMILY KNOW THAT THEY ARE HERE AND THEY ARE WITH THEM THROUGH THIS HORRIBLE, AWFUL PROCESS. I JUST THOUGHT IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO, NUMBER ONE, SHOW SUPPORT FOR OUR OUR ARMED SERVICES AND FOR THE FAMILY TO KNOW THAT WE CARE AND THAT WE DON’T UNDERSTAND ON A PERSONAL LEVEL NECESSARILY, BUT WE GET HOW MUCH THE SACRIFICE IS. I JUST THINK THAT PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT STILL CARE, THAT VALUE WHAT THEY’RE DOING. A LOT OF TIMES I THINK THEY GET A BAD RAP, BUT WE DON’T ALWAYS THANK THEM AS WE SHOULD. SO I THINK THAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A LOSS THAT MANY FAMILIES CAN SADLY RESONATE WITH, BUT LIKE YOU JUST HEARD KRISTEN SAY, IT IS JUST IMPORTANT TO LET THE FAMILY KNOW THAT PEOPLE CARE AND PEOPLE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM. AND LIKE WAVERLE MENTIONED, THIS IS THE FINAL PATH THAT THE ARRIVAL WILL TAKE. ONCE TIETJENS IS HERE, THIS WILL BE HIS FINAL RESTING PLACE AND A VISITATION IS SCHEDULED TO HAPPEN HERE AT FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME ON FRIDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 7 P.M. WAVERLE BACK TO YOU. YEAH. SO HIS PROCESSION A WEEK BEFORE THE FUNERAL, LIKE MADDIE SAID, THAT’S GOING TO VISITATION IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE MARCH 27TH. IT IS FROM 10 TO 7 P.M. AT FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME AND THEN THE FUNERAL FOR SERGEANT FIRST CLASS TIETJENS IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT DAY. THAT’S SATURDAY, MARCH 28TH. IT’S IN BELLEVUE AND IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A PRIVATE BURIAL AT FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. THE MOTORCADE FOR MASTER SERGEANT TIETJENS TURNS ON TO NORTH 55TH AND IT HEADS TOWARD FOREST LAWN CEMETERY AT KETV. NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S BETH CARLSON IS LIVE THERE. WAVERLE THAT’S RIGHT. THIS IS THE FINAL TURN THAT THE PROCESSION FOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS WILL TAKE BEFORE HIS ARRIVAL AT THE FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY, JUST UP THE ROAD FROM HERE. AND THIS HAS BECOME A SPOT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED TO. RIGHT BEHIND ME. YOU CAN SEE JUST ACROSS THE STREET, SEVERAL PEOPLE GATHERING WITH AMERICAN FLAGS. AND EVEN ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROAD, WE HAVE EVEN MORE FLAGS. MULTIPLE PEOPLE HERE GETTING READY AS MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS PROCESSION CONTINUES TO MAKE ITS WAY TOWARDS THE FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME. I’VE SPOKEN TO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE STARTED GATHERING HERE, INCLUDING MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE TIETJENS FAMILY, MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY WHO SAY AS VETERANS IT WAS IMPORTANT TO COME OUT. BUT I’VE ALSO TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY NEVER MET TIETJENS OR WERE STRANGERS TO HIS FAMILY. BUT ON A DAY LIKE TODAY, THE MOST IMPORTANT CAUSE FOR THEM WAS SHOWING THE GRATITUDE AND THE SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO FINALLY REST. MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS JUST UP THE ROAD. DEFINITELY A LOT OF SUPPORT NEEDED FOR THIS PROFOUND LOSS FOR THIS FAMILY. WELL, AFTER LEAVING EPPLEY AIRFIELD, THE PROCESSION WILL THEN TRAVEL TO STORZ EXPRESSWAY. WE HAVE SAMANTHA PASTORINO LIVE THERE ON FLORENCE BOULEVARD. YEAH. WAVERLE I’M ON THE BRIDGE RIGHT ABOVE THE EXPRESSWAY WHERE, LIKE YOU SAID, THAT PROCESSION IS GOING TO FOLLOW ALONG. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LINING UP HERE FOR THE PAST 30 MINUTES, AND I’M HERE WITH JAMES HYATT. JAMES, YOU SAID YOU SERVED IN THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN’T KNOW TIETJENS PERSONALLY, BUT YOU SHARED WITH ME YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU LEARNED OF HIS DEATH ON MARCH 1ST. CAN YOU SHARE THAT STORY WITH US AGAIN? YEAH. YOU KNOW, ON MARCH 1ST, WHEN WE GOT THE NEWS THAT, YOU KNOW, SIX SERVICE MEMBERS LOST THEIR LIVES IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION URGENT FURY, IT JUST IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WE WERE HAVING LIKE TRAINING INCIDENT RELATED DEATHS, YOU KNOW, AND NOW IT’S, IT’S MORE, IT’S MORE, I’M NOT GOING TO SAY IT’S MORE REAL, BUT IT’S, IT’S A LOT. BASICALLY, I’M HERE TO SHOW OUR GOLD STAR FAMILIES IN AMERICA AND IN NEBRASKA THAT THAT THEY’RE LOVED. THEY’RE SUPPORTED. AND THAT LOVE AND SUPPORT IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE. I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS SHOW. I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT. YEAH. YOU SHARED WITH ME KIND OF JUST THE SUPPORT THAT YOU WANT TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU DIDN’T KNOW JENS PERSONALLY, BUT YOU SERVED. YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT HIS FAMILY IS FEELING LIKE, THAT YOU EVEN SHARED THE EMOTIONAL REACTION YOU HAD WHEN YOU LEARNED. WOULD YOU MIND SHARING THAT WITH US AGAIN AS WELL? YEAH, I, YOU KNOW, I TEARED UP QUITE A BIT DURING, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE NEWS ORIGINALLY CAME, BUT AS IT’S HAD TIME TO LIKE SET IN, IT’S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU, I’VE CRIED A LOT DURING THE LAST THREE WEEKS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICE THAT OUR SERVICE MEMBERS ARE MAKING AND CONTINUE TO MAKE. IT’S JUST. IT’S POWERFUL. YEAH. JAMES, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AGAIN, EVERYBODY IS LINING UP HERE ALL TO SUPPORT MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. THE PROCESSION AGAIN WILL FOLLOW ALONG THE EXPRESSWAY AS IT MAKES ITS WAY TO FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, WAVERLE BACK TO YOU. YEAH, IT’S HARD WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SOMEONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY PASSING AWAY AFTER PUTTING THEIR SACRIFICING THEIR LIFE FOR OUR COUNTRY. AND I DON’T THINK UNTIL YOU REALLY ARE A PART OF A PROCESSION LIKE WE’RE SEEING TODAY, YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY KIND OF HITS YOU. AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT WE SAW THERE WITH THAT MAN THERE, DESCRIBING HIS FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON. WE’RE GOING TO GO BACK OUT LIVE NOW TO KETV NEWSWATCH 7 PETE CUDDIHY, WHO IS JUST OUTSIDE EPPLEY AIRFIELD PETE. HEY, WAVERLE. WE’RE STILL WAITING FOR THE PROCESSION TO GET HERE, BUT RIGHT NOW I’M WITH BRUCE MUNDIE. HE’S HERE WITH HIS BIKE AND HE CAME WITH A GROUP. BRUCE, TELL ME WHAT YOUR GROUP IS, WHY YOU GUYS CAME OUT TODAY. SO WE’RE JUST A GROUP OF OMAHA CYCLISTS, AGES BETWEEN 45 AND ABOUT 65, AND WE HAVE A BUNCH OF BIKE TEAMS WE LIKE TO CALL OURSELVES. WE HAVE LIKE TEAM ANGRY HERE, TEAM AMNESIA, TEAM FAT BABIES. AND WE DECIDED TO GET OUR BIKES TODAY TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE. OBVIOUSLY THE PROCESSION TODAY AND SHOW OUR GRATITUDE. AND BRUCE, YOU’RE A AIR FORCE VETERAN. TELL ME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING THE FALLEN. YEAH, I THINK THIS IS REALLY A GOOD SHOWCASE OF THE MIDWEST. I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE MIDWEST APPRECIATE WHAT THE SERVICEMEN DO FOR FOR THE NATION AND THEIR SACRIFICE. AND IT’S GREAT TO SEE THE SHOWING WE HAVE HERE TODAY UP AND DOWN THE STREETS OF THE FOLKS SUPPORTING THE FAMILY AND THE SACRIFICE THAT WERE TODAY. YEAH. AND THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME THAT BRUCE AND HIS GROUP HAS COME OUT FOR A PROCESSION. YOU WERE HERE WHEN CORPORAL DAEGAN PAGE PASSED, RIGHT? CORRECT. WE DID THE SAME THING. WE CAME OUT ON A BIKE RIDE AND LINED THE STREETS AND PAID OUR GRATITUDE FOR HIS SACRIFICE. ALSO. YES. AND JUST AS A VETERAN, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE THAT REPRESENTATION, TO HAVE OTHER VETERANS COME OUT? WHEN SOMEBODY DOES PASS? IT’S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR THE FAMILY AND, AND, AND TO SHOW THE GRATITUDE FOR THE FOR THE SACRIFICE. AND YEAH, WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR THE SERVICE, YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON THE DOTTED LINE AND, AND IT’S IMPORTANT THAT SACRIFICE IS MADE, THAT WE HONOR THAT AND SHOW OUR GRATITUDE. DEFINITELY. BRUCE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. WAVERLE WE’LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN THE STUDIO. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU PETE. YEAH. WE KNEW A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE PROBABLY COMING OUT TO THIS PROCESSION HAS ALSO PROBABLY WENT TO THE PROCESSION OF MARINE CORPORAL DAEGAN PAGE JUST IN 2021, AFTER HE WAS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN, ALONG WITH 12 OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS. SO THE PROCESSION HASN’T STARTED YET. WE DO KNOW THAT THE PLANE CARRYING MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS HAS LANDED AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD, BUT THE ROUTE IT STARTS AT LINDBERGH DRIVE AND DAWES EXPRESSWAY MOTORCADE IS GOING TO TRAVEL WEST ON STORES TO SORENSEN PARKWAY. SORENSEN PARKWAY IS THE LONGEST STRETCH OF THE PROCESSION. IT GOES FROM 30TH TO 56TH, THEN THE MOTORCADE WILL TRAVEL NORTH ON 56TH UNTIL THEY REACH FOR SUN CEMETERY. SO THERE’S STILL A LOT OF TIME TO LINE THE PROCESSION AND REALLY PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT AS THE FAMILY DRIVES. WITH MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS TO THE FUNERAL HOME, WE’RE GOING TO GO ALONG THE PROCESSION ROUTE WITH BETH CARLSON. SHE’S AT NORTH 56 AS IT HEADS, AS THE PROCESSION LINE HEADS TOWARDS FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, BETH. WAVERLE. AS I SAID EARLIER, THIS IS THE FINAL TURN BEFORE THE PROCESSION CARRYING MASTER SERGEANT FIRST CLASS NOAH TIETJENS MAKES ITS WAY TO FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, JUST UP THE ROAD. BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST DAY THAT WE’VE SEEN PEOPLE REMEMBER THE FALLEN HERO FROM NEBRASKA JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO. I REMEMBER AN OUTPOUR OF SUPPORT AT A VIGIL AT HIS MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO DOWN IN BELLEVUE. I REMEMBER SPEAKING TO PEOPLE THERE WHO SAID THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A HARD DAY. EVEN WEEKS AFTER WE FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THAT, NEWS. OF THE SIX SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION IN KUWAIT, AND SINCE THEN, MULTIPLE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT. AS I MENTIONED, THAT VIGIL AT HIS MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO IN BELLEVUE, A SHAMROCK THAT INCLUDED HIS NAME AS A SIGN OF REMEMBRANCE IN THE TOWN SQUARE IN DOWNTOWN BELLEVUE. SO MANY MOMENTS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS WHERE PEOPLE THAT KNEW HIM AND WERE STRANGERS HAVE WANTED TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT AND ALL OF THAT COMING TO A HEAD TODAY AS PEOPLE LINE THIS ROUTE, AWAITING TIETJENS AND HIS FAMILY TO MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THIS PROCESSION. SOME PEOPLE I SPOKE TO SAY THEY’VE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE TIETJENS FAMILY, WITH THE STORIES OF HIS LIFE, EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT KNOW TIETJENS PERSONALLY, BUT THAT THIS IS A DAY FOR ANYONE TO SHOW THEIR GRATITUDE AND SUPPORT FOR HIM. OMAHA IS JUST NEBRASKA AS A WHOLE. WE REALLY SUPPORT OUR FAMILIES AND EACH OTHER, AND WE SEE THAT IN MOMENTS OF CRISIS LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT COMES OUT. SO IT’S JUST NICE TO SEE THAT AND THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT REALLY CARE. AND HERE’S A SPECIAL ARTS. HE DID KARATE. HE DID ALL THAT. AND THEY’RE GOING TO MISS HIM TOO. ONE PERSON I SPOKE TO AT THAT VIGIL AT THE MARTIAL ARTS INTERNATIONAL IN BELLEVUE, I REMEMBER SAYING HE SAID HE KEPT IT TOGETHER ON THE DAY OF THE VIGIL, BUT ON THE DAY OF THE PROCESSION, HE SAID IT WOULD REALLY HIT HARD. AND I THINK THAT’S TRUE FOR MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GATHERED ALONG THIS PROCESSION LINE AS IT MAKES ITS WAY THROUGH OMAHA, AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ON, BECAUSE THIS DAY IS IS A REMEMBRANCE AND A CELEBRATION OF A HERO WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. WAVERLE BACK TO YOU. AND DEFINITELY YOU CAN FEEL THE WEIGHT AS THE PROCESSION MOVES ALONG PAST YOU. SO THE LONGEST STRETCH OF THAT PROCESSION, IT FOLLOWS SORENSEN PARKWAY TO NORTH 56. THAT’S WHERE WE FIND KETV MADISON PERALEZ. YEAH. AGAIN, WE’RE AT 30TH AND DAWSON HERE AGAIN, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE COME HERE TODAY, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE FAMILIES HERE FROM WHO HAVE MILITARY MEMBERS IN THEIR FAMILY AS WELL. DO YOU ALL MIND INTRODUCING YOURSELF AND WHO IS IN THE MILITARY IN YOUR FAMILY? I’M BETTY SPETHMANN AND MY SON, DOCTOR JOHN SPETHMANN IS WAS IN KUWAIT FOR NINE MONTHS LAST YEAR. SAME PLACE AND ALSO DAVID ORSI WAS IN AFGHANISTAN. MY BROTHER VIETNAM WERE VERY SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE BEING SERVING AND LOVING OUR COUNTRY AND WANT TO HONOR THEM. ABSOLUTELY. I’M CATHY CULBERTSON, AND MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE ARMY FOR SIX YEARS IN THE RESERVES FOR TEN YEARS, AND HE DIED THIS FALL. AND I’M JUST HONORING HIM. ABSOLUTELY. I’M DOING DORNAN. I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT’S IN THE AIR FORCE RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY SERVING IN TEXAS. WOW. AND WHY DID YOU ALL FEEL LIKE YOU WANTED TO COME OUT HERE TODAY? WHAT BROUGHT YOU OUT HERE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY OF THE FALLEN SOLDIERS? ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, TO GIVE THAT SO MUCH, YOU KNOW, LITTLE CHILDREN, A WIFE, ALL OF THAT FOR US AND ALL OF THOSE AND ALSO FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT WENT BEFORE US, WE WOULDN’T BE STANDING HERE IN A FREE COUNTRY WITH ALL OF THOSE THAT SERVED BEFORE ALL OF THESE. AND SO YOU HONOR THOSE THAT PARTICIPATED CAME HOME, BUT ALSO THOSE THAT ARE WITH GOD. AND IS THERE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE EMOTIONS THAT YOU ARE FEELING TODAY AS YOU’RE COMING OUT HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT? ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD? YEAH, I FEEL FOR THE FAMILIES. I REALLY DO WITH THE DAUGHTER BEING IN THE AIR FORCE, IT HITS HOME KNOWING WHAT THAT FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH, AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED EVEN BY THOSE THEY DON’T REALLY KNOW. WE’RE THERE FOR THEM. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR SHARING A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR STORIES. AND AGAIN, WE’LL BE OUT HERE ALL DAY MONITORING, WAITING FOR MASTER SERGEANT JONES TO MAKE HIS WAY OVER TO FOREST LAWN. BACK TO YOU. WAVERLE AT THE DESK. IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF EMOTION OUT THERE. MADISON. THANK YOU. WE WANT TO GO BACK OUT LIVE TO KETV NEWSWATCH 7. PETE CUDDIHY WHO JUST AGAIN OUTSIDE. EPPLEY AIRFIELD. PETE, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING? HEY WAVERLE I’M WITH A MEMBER OF THE BELLEVUE COMMUNITY. ACTUALLY SERVES AS COMMUNITY RELATIONS PHIL DAVIDSON. PHIL, TELL ME WHAT IT’S BEEN LIKE TO SEE THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FROM THE PEOPLE OF BELLEVUE. YEAH. YOU KNOW, BELLEVUE IS A BIG MILITARY, PATRIOTIC COMMUNITY. WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, I THINK BELLEVUE RALLIES TOGETHER AND COMES TOGETHER FOR THIS. NONE OF US REALLY KNEW NOAH. I MEAN, I DIDN’T KNOW NOAH. A LOT OF PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW HIM, BUT HE, HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR ALL OF US. AND I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BELLEVUE GETS BEHIND US, JUST LIKE THE OMAHA COMMUNITY GETS BEHIND US AND REALLY REPRESENTS US AND HONORS HIM FOR WHAT HE’S DONE FOR US. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT SAYS ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF BELLEVUE? I MEAN, WE ALREADY SAW WITH THE ANNUAL SAINT PATRICK’S DAY SHAMROCK THAT HE WAS HONORED IN THAT. AND THEN I KNOW THERE’S PLANS FOR THE FUTURE, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK IT SAYS ABOUT THE PEOPLE? YEAH, IT JUST SHOWS YOU WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS LIKE WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH. BELLEVUE STEPS UP AND REALLY GOES, YOU KNOW, WE’RE GOING TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY. HOWEVER WE CAN, AND WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS. OBVIOUSLY, BEING OUT HERE IS A NICE SHOW OF SUPPORT. NEXT SATURDAY IN BELLEVUE, WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER STRONG SHOW OF SUPPORT, BUT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HELP THE FAMILY AFTERWARDS, YOU KNOW, AND DO WHAT THEY NEED BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO NEED THINGS. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY LOST THEIR FATHER. THEY LOST THEIR THEIR HUSBAND AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO WE’RE GOING TO NEED TO HELP THEM OUT WHENEVER WE CAN. BELLEVUE IS REALLY GOOD AT STEPPING UP WHEN THE TIME WHEN THE TIME IS NEEDED. DEFINITELY. AND TODAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE OUT HERE? DO YOU KNOW ABOUT PEOPLE FROM, I’LL SAY FROM BELLEVUE? ARE THEY ALONG THE ROUTE? WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD? YEAH, I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE FROM BELLEVUE ARE ALONG THE ROUTE, BUT I KNOW THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE ALONG THE ROUTE. I WAS DRIVING IN HERE TODAY TOWARD THE AIRPORT, AND I SAW PEOPLE ON THE OVERPASSES. I SAW OP OVER HERE WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG HANGING. SO THERE’S A LOT OF PATRIOTIC SUPPORT OUT HERE, AND I THINK IT’S GOING TO BE JUST AS BIG NEXT WEEK IN BELLEVUE AS WELL. AFTER THE FUNERAL. DEFINITELY. PHIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. A LOT OF SUPPORT OUT HERE. AND AS WE’VE HEARD, THERE’S A LOT OF SUPPORT ALONG THE ROUTE. AS YOU GO FURTHER AND FURTHER. WAVERLE I’LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT PETE, THANK YOU. SO AS PETE AND BETH HAVE BOTH MENTIONED, PEOPLE IN BELLEVUE TRAVEL ALONG MICHIGAN AVENUE, PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THAT SHAMROCK DESIGN. DOWNTOWN PAINTING NOW HAS AN EXTRA MEANING, AND IT’S TO HONOR MASTER SERGEANT T JONES. WE ALL KNOW NOAH, BUT WE KNOW THE SACRIFICE HE MADE FOR OUR COUNTRY. AND WE BELIEVE IT’S IMPORTANT TO HONOR ONE OF OUR OWN DOWN HERE. AND AS WE TOLD YOU, T JONES WAS A BELLEVUE WEST GRADUATE, LIVED IN THE BELLEVUE AREA, AND OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT OF TIES. IT’S A BIG MILITARY COMMUNITY THERE IS, PHIL DAVIDSON SAID. AND REALLY JUST BEING ALONG THAT PROCESSION LINE SHOWING THAT SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW CAN REALLY MEAN A LOT TO THE FAMILY. WELL, AFTER LEAVING EPPLEY AIRFIELD, THE PROCESSION IS GOING TO TRAVEL TO STORRS EXPRESSWAY AND THAT’S WHERE WE FIND KETV SAMANTHA PASTORINO. YEAH. WAVERLE. DURING A TRAGIC MOMENT LIKE THE DEATH OF SERGEANT OR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS, IT REALLY SHOWS HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER IN SUPPORT. AND I’M HERE WITH NANCY GARDNER. NANCY, YOU SAID YOU LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO COME AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT TODAY? WELL, OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO THANK HIS FAMILY AND ACKNOWLEDGE HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND THE LOSS THAT HE HIS DEATH IS EVERYTHING I’VE READ ABOUT HIM. HE JUST SOUNDS LIKE A PHENOMENAL PERSON. WAS THE KIND OF GUY WHO STEPPED UP AND GAVE WHENEVER ANYTHING WAS NEEDED IN HIS COMMUNITY. AND WE’RE ALL STRONGER FOR THE LIFE HE LED AND BETTER OFF. AND THEN, OF COURSE, HIS DEATH IS JUST REALLY TRAGIC. YEAH. NANCY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SARGENT MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS OBITUARY SAYS HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, HIS SON, HIS BROTHERS AND HIS PARENTS SAID HE CAME FROM A MILITARY FAMILY. HIS FATHER SERVED, HIS BROTHERS SERVED, AND THAT’S ULTIMATELY WHAT INSPIRED HIM TO LIST. IN 2006. HE WAS ONLY 23 YEARS OLD WHEN HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY WAVERLE AGAIN, WE ARE ON THE PROCESSION ROUTE. THE PROCESSION HAS NOT STARTED YET, BUT WE’LL BE HERE FOLLOWING IT AS IT CONTINUES. WAVERLE BACK TO YOU. OKAY, SAMANTHA. THANK YOU. THE MOTORCADE FOR MASTER SERGEANT TIETJENS WILL TURN THEN ONTO NORTH 56 AS IT HEADS TOWARDS FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S BETH CARLSON IS LIVE THERE. BETH. WAVERLE THAT’S RIGHT. I’M HERE OFF THE FINAL TURN, AND I’M SPEAKING WITH SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS WHY SO MANY MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY ARE OUT HERE TODAY. THIS IS WALLY, AND I WANTED TO ASK, YOU MENTIONED TO ME EARLIER THAT YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE MILITARY. YOU ARE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHO WANTED TO COME OUT HERE TODAY. WHY WAS THAT? IT’S IMPORTANT AS AN AMERICAN THAT WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AND THE DUTY TO COME OUT AND HONOR OUR SOLDIERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS HAPPENS AND ONE OF THEM IS KILLED IN THE LINE OF SERVICE. SO REALLY WANT TO COME OUT AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT. AND AS A MARINE CORPS VETERAN, IT’S ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY. EVERY VETERAN AND EVERY EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN THAT SHOULD. AND I KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT ALONE IN THE NUMBER OF MILITARY VETERANS THAT ARE HERE TODAY. IT SEEMS LIKE A SHARED EXPERIENCE TO WANT TO BE THERE FOR ONE OF YOUR OWN. SOMEBODY WHO WHO WENT THROUGH SOMETHING SIMILAR TO YOU. WOULD YOU SAY THAT’S TRUE, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ALONG THIS ROUTE WHO ARE WANTING TO DO THE SAME AS YOU 100%. THERE’S A BROTHERHOOD THAT AND A BOND THAT WE ALL SHARE AS SERVICE MEMBERS, THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE’RE GETTING OURSELVES INTO WHEN WE SIGN UP TO, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE OUR, OUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND WE KNOW, UNDERSTAND THE RISKS. AND THAT’S WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO, YOU KNOW, TO HONOR THIS THIS GENTLEMAN THAT’S COMING THROUGH TODAY AND ALL THE REST OF THE SOLDIERS THAT LOST THEIR LIVES IN THIS, DOESN’T MATTER WHAT SIDE OR YOUR FEELINGS ARE. THAT’S AGAIN, IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS AMERICANS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AND SHOW OUR SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES. YEAH. AND MASTER SERGEANT NOAH, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, WAS WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO WERE BEING HONORED BEING REMEMBERED IN THE AFTERMATH SINCE SINCE MARCH 1ST. AND I WANT TO ASK YOU, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU SEEING STRANGERS, PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, MAY NOT HAVE HAD MILITARY SERVICE, BUT WANTED TO BE A PART OF TODAY, SEEING THEM STAND BESIDE YOU AND CARRY THOSE AMERICAN FLAGS LIKE YOU ARE. WHAT IS THAT LIKE? IT’S THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD TO SEE. THIS ALL TRULY SHOWS HOW UNITED WE ARE AND BEING ABLE TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS TOGETHER. I MEAN, THAT’S THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE. YOU KNOW, THERE’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE TRAGEDIES THAT ARE GOING TO OCCUR. THERE’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN LIFE. AND JUST TO SEE HOW A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER, THAT’S WHAT IS THIS IS ALL ABOUT TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER. THIS IS WHY AMERICA IS SO GREAT. AND I THINK YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED TO ME THAT THIS IS A PART OF BEING IN OMAHA, BEING IN THE METRO, BEING FROM NEBRASKA IS THAT PEOPLE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO SERVED. IS THAT YOUR EXPERIENCE HAVING, YOU KNOW, BEEN A PART OF THE MILITARY, HAVING COME BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY? 100%. YOU SAW THAT YEARS AGO WHEN CORPORAL DAEGAN PAGE, YOU KNOW, WAS KILLED IN ACTION. AND AND THE SUPPORT, OVERWHELMING SUPPORT, JUST LIKE TODAY. AND IT’S JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT TURN OUT. YEAH. I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR SPEAKING WITH US TODAY. OF COURSE, WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ALONG THIS ROUTE, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOW JOINING US ON BUTTE. WAVERLE. I’LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU FOR NOW. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. BETH, THERE ARE MULTIPLE WAYS THAT YOU CAN SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BEYOND JUST LINING THE PROCESSION ROUTE. THE DAEGAN PAGE FOUNDATION SAYS IT HAS THEIR DOORS OPEN, SO THEY LAUNCHED. IT’S A NEW INITIATIVE. IT’S CALLED LOVE NEVER ENDS, AND IT’S AN EFFORT TO PASS ON THE LOVE PAIGE’S FAMILY RECEIVED WHEN HE DIED IN AFGHANISTAN. TWO OTHER FAMILIES SEE THE GRATITUDE THROUGH THE EYES OF OTHERS IN THEIR OWN WORDS, AND WRITING IN A HOMEMADE CARD IS VERY SPECIAL. COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN DECORATE CARDS, WHICH THEN THE FOUNDATION WILL PASS ON TO THE FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN SERVICE MEMBERS. THE OFFICE THERE IS, I BELIEVE, 1330 MIKE FAHEY SO YOU CAN VISIT THAT. THEY’RE GOING TO BE OPEN THROUGHOUT THIS TIME WHERE YOU CAN GO AND MAKE THOSE CARDS, PROCESSION ALL HEADS TO FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR MASTER SERGEANT T JONES. KETV IS MADDIE AUGUSTINE IS LIVE. WAVERLE PEOPLE HAVE CONTINUED TO JUST START LINING THE STREET HERE AHEAD OF MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS ARRIVAL HERE AT FOREST LAWN. I’M JOINED NOW WITH A COUPLE WHO HAS FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO MILITARY MEMBERS. THIS IS TERRY AND GARY. PINTO AND YOU GUYS WERE JUST TELLING ME YOU HAVE MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF THE MILITARY AS WELL. WHY WAS IT SO IMPORTANT TO BE HERE TO HELP HONOR TIETJENS TODAY? WELL, THIS IS WHAT MY FOLKS WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE DONE TO BE UP HERE ON A SPECIAL DAY FOR A DIGNIFIED SOMEONE WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND LOST HIS LIFE. FOR THE FAMILY TO BE HERE, SHOW RESPECT. IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THE REASON THAT IT HAPPENED. WE HAVE THESE WONDERFUL MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES THAT ARE HERE TO PROTECT US, AND WE COULDN’T BE MORE APPRECIATIVE OF IT. AND WE WERE JUST TALKING. YOU GUYS WERE HERE TO HELP HONOR CORPORAL DAEGAN PAGE AS WELL. NOBODY COULD HAVE EXPECTED THAT WE WOULD BE HERE HONORING YET ANOTHER FALLEN HERO SO QUICKLY AFTER COMING FROM FAMILY WHO HAS MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY. HOW IS THAT? IS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO BE HERE AGAIN? WELL, IT’S RESPECT. IT’S RESPECT NOT ONLY FOR OUR COUNTRY, BUT FOR OUR MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILY. MOST OF ALL AT THIS TIME WHEN THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE SUPPORT THEM AND THEY’RE HERE FOR THEM. THEY’RE GETTING A LITTLE EMOTIONAL. MAY I ASK WHY? BECAUSE IT HITS HOME. MY DAD WAS A WORLD WAR TWO VET, AND HE LAID UNDER AN APPLE TREE FOR TEN DAYS, WOUNDED UNTIL THEY FOUND HIM AND GOT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. AND HE LASTED A YEAR IN THE HOSPITAL BEFORE HE COULD COME BACK TO THE STATES. SO IT HITS HOME. YEAH, IT DOES. IT HITS HOME THAT, YOU KNOW, GARY’S BROTHER WAS IN THE VIETNAM WAR. SO IT’S CLOSE. AND THEY DESERVE ALL THE RESPECT AND HONOR THAT THEY CAN GET FOR EVERYTHING THEY’VE DONE. YEAH. FOR BEING STATESIDE AND THEY’RE AWAY FROM THE FAMILY. THAT’S TOUGH ENOUGH. BUT YET TO WAIT FOR HIM TO COME HOME LIKE THIS. WANT TO HONOR HIM? ABSOLUTELY. AND WE’VE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HERE WHO ALSO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, AND IT’S THE SAME MESSAGE, RESPECT AND HONOR AND SHOWING SUPPORT FOR THESE FAMILIES. AND YOU SAID THAT YOU ACTUALLY LIVE PRETTY CLOSE BY AND YOU’VE YOU’VE SEEN PLENTY OF THESE. CAN YOU JUST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND WHAT IT’S BEEN LIKE FOR YOU TO BE A PART OF MULTIPLE CHANCES TO HONOR THESE FALLEN HEROES? I THINK ANYBODY WHO HAS THE CHANCE SHOULD. IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD AMONGST YOURSELF, LET ALONE WHAT THE FAMILY MUST FEEL WHEN THEY KNOW THIS. MANY PEOPLE CARE. YEAH, WE LIVE ON FOREST LAWN, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL ENTRANCE TO THIS CEMETERY, AND AS A KID GROWING UP, HE’S TOLD ME ALL THE THINGS THAT HE GOT TO WITNESS AND BE A PART OF AS GROWING THERE IN THAT HOUSE. IS THERE A MESSAGE YOU’D LIKE THE FAMILY TO RECEIVE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR FOR THE PATRIOTISM, FOR HIM JOINING THE SERVICE AND DOING WHAT HE DID IN THE COMMUNITY STOOD UP FOR HIM. FROM WHAT WE’RE HEARING IN THE BELLEVUE DIDN’T KNOW HIM PERSONALLY. EVERYBODY’S GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT WHAT A WAY TO KNOW SOMEBODY IS AFTER THEY’RE GONE. NEED TO THANK EVERY SERVICEMAN YOU CAN SEE. MEN AND WOMEN ARE OUT THERE SUPPORTING OUR COUNTRY. YEAH. WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY FEEL SO SORRY FOR THE FAMILY AND THEIR LOSS. I MEAN, IT’S A TREMENDOUS LOSS. BUT WE ARE ALSO HONORED THAT WE HAVE HIM TODAY WITH US AND THAT WE GET TO HONOR HIM HERE TODAY. GARY, TERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING WITH US AND BEING HERE TO HELP HONOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES AND WAVERLE. THIS HAS BEEN A MESSAGE THAT WE’VE SEEN FROM SO MANY PEOPLE. A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE SIMPLY HERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SHOW THAT RESPECT FOR SOMEONE WHO QUITE LITERALLY SACRIFICED THEIR LIFE TO ALLOW THEM TO BE HERE TODAY. AND AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME HERE, THERE ARE CARS STARTING TO LINE THIS ENTIRE STREET. SO WE EXPECT QUITE A FEW MORE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AHEAD OF MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES FINAL ARRIVAL. WAVERLE BACK TO YOU. MADDIE MADDIE AUGUSTINE REPORTING. IT’S JUST LISTENING TO PEOPLE WHO SAY HOW CLOSE TO HOME IT HITS WHEN LOSING A SERVICE MEMBER AND THEN BRINGING THEM HOME. FAMILY, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT NEEDING THAT SUPPORT AND THE COMMUNITY REALLY TRYING TO WRAP THEIR ARMS AROUND THEM, BUT ALSO GIVING THEM SPACE. ANOTHER WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN HELP IS THERE’S A GOFUNDME SET UP TO HELP THE FAMILY. IT WAS IN THE GOFUNDME. IT SAID THAT MASTER SERGEANT T JONES WAS THE SOLE BREADWINNER OF HIS FAMILY. AND SO THIS MONEY IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE BURDEN OF ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT THE FAMILY WOULD HAVE TO MAKE, SO THAT THEY CAN REALLY TAKE THIS TIME TO GRIEVE THEIR LOVED ONE. NOW WE HAVE MADISON PERALEZ. SHE’S ON THAT PROCESSION LINE AT 30TH AND SORENSEN PARKWAY MADISON. MORE PEOPLE, I ASSUME, HAVE JOINED YOU OUT THERE TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS. WAVERLE. YEAH, WE’RE AT 30TH AND DAWSON, WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT IS STARTING TO SHOW UP AS WELL AND MAKE THEIR STAKES HERE. AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY HERE AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILY IN THE MILITARY ACTUALLY BRING TO YOU TRAVIS FLORENCE, WHO IS AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY CURRENTLY. TELL ME, WHY DID YOU DECIDE THAT YOU WANTED TO JOIN IN TODAY’S PROCESSION? WELL, WE WANTED TO COME OUT AND JUST KIND OF PAY OUR RESPECTS RIGHT. ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICES THAT FALLS, YOU KNOW, IN THE JOINT FORCE, WHETHER IT’S SOLDIER CEREMONY, SOLDIER, SAILOR, AIRMAN, MARINE, GUARDIAN, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ALL ONE TEAM AND JUST WANT TO COME AND SHOW OUR RESPECTS. ABSOLUTELY. AND I SAW THAT YOU ALSO BROUGHT YOUR CHILDREN HERE AS WELL. CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THIS MEANS TO BRING YOUR KIDS OUT HERE AS WELL, TO ALSO TAKE PART IN THIS HISTORICAL MOMENT FOR THEM TOO? YEAH, I WANTED TO SHOW THEM, YOU KNOW, LET THEM SEE WHAT A, WHAT A HERO’S WELCOME LOOKS LIKE, RIGHT? IT’S IMPORTANT. IT’S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE SACRIFICES OF, YOU KNOW, ALL THE SERVICE MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. AND I WANT THEM TO KIND OF SEE HOW HOW BIG OF A DEAL THAT IS, RIGHT? WHEN THE PROCESSION COMES THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, IT’S IMPORTANT THAT THEY THAT THEY RECOGNIZE THAT. RIGHT. AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN SARGENT MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TEACHES PERSONALLY, BUT TELL ME, IS THIS STILL PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL FOR YOU AS WELL, BEING HERE? WELL, ANY MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES, YOU KNOW, THAT PAYS THAT ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, WE’RE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO THEM. SO YEAH, ANY ANY MEMBER, WHETHER IT WAS BELLEVUE OR, YOU KNOW, DES MOINES OR WHEREVER, WHATEVER CITY THEY COME FROM, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ALL ONE TEAM. SO YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING WITH US, TRAVIS. AND WE WILL CONTINUE PROVIDING YOU MORE UPDATES AS WE ARE WAITING AGAIN FOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES TO MAKE HIS WAY OVER TO FOREST LAWN AGAIN. MANY PEOPLE ARE OUT HERE EVEN BRINGING CHAIRS TO WAIT AND PATIENTLY WAIT FOR MASTER SERGEANT JONES. SO WE’RE GOING TO HAND IT BACK OVER TO YOU AT THE DESK. WAVERLE. YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE JUST WANTING TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS. THANK YOU. MADISON THIS IS A LIVE LOOK FROM OUR LEWIS AND CLARK MONUMENT CAMERA. IT’S LOOKING AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD PROCESSION FOR MASTER SERGEANT JONES HAS NOT STARTED YET, SO THERE’S STILL TIME TO LINE THE PROCESSION ROUTE. WE WANT TO FILL IT UP SO THAT WHEN THE FAMILY DRIVES BY, THEY CAN SEE HOW THE METRO SUPPORTING THEM STANDING ON THE PROCESSION LINE, PAYING THEIR RESPECTS TO NOAH JONES, WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE WHILE SERVING OUR COUNTRY, ALLOWED LIVE TO KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S PETE CUDDIHY PETE, WHERE ARE YOU? YEAH. WAVERLE. I’M JOINED WITH UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA ROTC MEMBER CARTER DAKOTA CARTER, WHAT BROUGHT YOU OUT HERE TODAY? YES, I SAW YESTERDAY WHILE I WAS AT WORK, ONE OF THE PATIENTS, THEY BROUGHT UP TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS EVENT WAS HAPPENING TODAY. I NEVER KNEW SARGENT T PERSONALLY, BUT I HAVE A COUPLE OF FRIENDS FROM CREIGHTON THAT KNEW HIM. SO I THINK IT’S JUST I’M HERE. I CAN PAY MY RESPECTS TO HIM FROM EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW. HE’S A HE’S A GREAT MAN AND YEAH, JUST DOING WHAT I CAN TO PAY RESPECT. WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN HEARING FROM THE ROTC COMMUNITY? PEOPLE WHO KNEW NOAH TEACHINGS THAT HE WAS HE WAS AN AMAZING MAN, THAT HE’S GOING TO BE MISSED AND THAT. YEAH, HE’S JUST AMAZING, MAN. THAT MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON ON THOSE AROUND HIM. AND I KNOW YOU’RE A PART OF ROTC. CARTER WANTS TO MAKE HIS CAREER BEING IN THE AIR FORCE. DOES IT HIT CLOSE TO HOME SEEING SOMEBODY FROM NEBRASKA PASS AWAY LIKE THIS? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. IT MAKES IT FEEL A LITTLE BIT MORE REAL. IT MAKES YOU REALIZE THE FULL IN DEPTH OF WHAT’S HAPPENING AND JUST DO WHAT YOU CAN. YEAH, YEAH. CARTER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME AGAIN. WE’RE STILL WAITING FOR THE PROCESSION TO MAKE ITS WAY DOWN HERE, BUT WE’LL BE BACK WITH A LIVE UPDATE AS SOON AS THEY COME. I SEE THAT AMERICAN FLAG BEHIND YOU, PETE. IS THAT OMAHA FIRE THAT HAS THAT LIFTED UP? I’M NOT HEARING ANYTHING. OKAY, WELL, WE’LL COME BACK TO PETE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT’S OMAHA FIREFIGHTERS. THEY HAVE THE LADDERS UP THERE WITH THAT HUGE AMERICAN FLAG. SO AS THAT PROCESSION COMES THROUGH, FAMILY LOVED ONES ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE PATRIOTIC PRIDE AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE SUPPORT AS THEY MOVE TO FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. CARTER MENTIONED THAT HE HAD FRIENDS OF CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY THAT KNEW MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJEN. SO WE DID. WE DO KNOW THAT JONES WORKED WITH CREIGHTON ROTC DURING HIS TIME BACK HERE AT HOME, BEFORE BEING DEPLOYED OUT TO KUWAIT. SO WE WANT TO GET MORE SOUND AS PEOPLE ARE LINING OR WE WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO MEET MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE LINING THE PROCESSION ROUTE ALONG STORZ EXPRESSWAY. THAT’S WHERE KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S SAMANTHA PASTORINO IS LIVE ON FLORENCE BOULEVARD, SAMANTHA. WAVERLE. SINCE TEGAN’S DEATH ON MARCH 1ST, WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THE BELLEVUE AND OMAHA COMMUNITIES WHO SAY HE WAS INCREDIBLY INVOLVED. HE WAS INVOLVED IN MARTIAL ARTS. YOU JUST HEARD HE WAS INVOLVED IN CREIGHTON ROTC, AND HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN SCOUTING AMERICA. AND I’M HERE WITH JESSE LEE AND JESSE. YOU CAME HERE WITH YOUR KIDS. YOU WERE IN SCOUTING AMERICA. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO SHOW UP TODAY AND HONOR THIS DIGNIFIED ARRIVAL? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SCOUTS REALLY EMPHASIZES IS CITIZENSHIP. SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY AND ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THAT CAN BE THAT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, A FOOD PANTRY THAT CAN BE MILITARY SERVICE, THAT COULD BE POLICE, EMTS, THAT TYPE OF THINGS. AND THIS IS JUST ONE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME OUT AND SHOW OUR RESPECT. AND, YOU KNOW, HONOR THE SACRIFICE THAT HE’S MADE. AND, YOU KNOW, HIS SERVICE AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SERVED ALONGSIDE HIM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT’S SO IMPRESSIVE ABOUT WAS HIS INVOLVEMENT, NOT JUST IN THE ARMY, BUT IN EVERYTHING. I MEAN, RIGHT, WE JUST HEARD CREIGHTON ROTC MARTIAL ARTS. HE TAUGHT AND HE WAS A BLACK BELT. AND THEN ALSO IN SCOUTING AMERICA. I MEAN, I KNOW YOU DIDN’T KNOW PERSONALLY, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MAKE YOU THINK? A MAN WHO WAS INVOLVED IN SO MANY THINGS AND ULTIMATELY GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR HIS COUNTRY, SOMEBODY THAT’S DEDICATED TO SERVICE IN BIG WAYS THROUGH THE MILITARY, ALSO CONNECTING THROUGH MARTIAL ARTS OR SCOUTS OR ALL THOSE DIFFERENT WAYS. SOMEBODY THAT SEEMS VERY WILLING TO, TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO SERVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPEAKING WITH US, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO HONOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES. WAVERLE. IT IS A FULL BRIDGE HERE. THIS ENTIRE SECTION IS PACKED. EVERYBODY IS WAITING TO HONOR THE PROCESSION THAT’S GOING TO GO RIGHT UNDER US ON THE EXPRESSWAY FOR TJ. SEND IT BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. SAMANTHA, THAT’S GOOD TO HEAR PEOPLE LINING UP AGAIN. THERE’S STILL TIME TO LINE THE PROCESSION ROUTE HAS NOT STARTED YET. WE DO KNOW I THINK IT HAPPENED A LITTLE BIT AFTER 1:00. THAT PLANE LANDING AT EPPLEY AIRFIELD. WE’RE GOING TO SEND IT OUT TO KETV NEWSWATCH 7 MADDIE AUGUSTINE. SHE’S LIVE NEAR FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. MADDIE. HEY, WAVERLE. I AM OFF CAMERA RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WANTED TO ZOOM IN INSIDE OF FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL PARK FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY AREA, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE NEBRASKA PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS LINED UP FOR THAT FLAG WALK. I WAS SPEAKING TO A REPRESENTATIVE WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT AGO, AND HE TOLD ME THEY HAVE ABOUT 100 PEOPLE STANDING UP THERE, AND THEY’VE BEEN UP THERE SINCE ABOUT 1230, READY TO SERVE AND HONOR AND RESPECT. MASTER SERGEANT NOAH T JONES AND SOMEONE ELSE I SPOKE WITH WHO ACTUALLY SERVED WITH MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES WHILE HE WAS PART OF THE ELKHORN ARMY RESERVE, BASED OUT OF THE 443. HE TELLS ME THAT HIS NAME IS ANTHONY HANER. HE SERVED WITH T JONES IN 2009. HE TELLS ME THAT HE WAS DEPLOYED WITH HIM AND HE DESCRIBED NOAH AS A GREAT SOLDIER. HE SAYS HE WAS ESCORTING CONVOYS ALL THROUGHOUT IRAQ. HE DESCRIBED NOAH AS SOMEBODY THAT IS THE IDEAL PERSON TO SERVE FOR OUR COUNTRY. HE SAYS HE WAS EVERYTHING A SOLDIER SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE. AND HE SAYS, MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES LOSS WILL BE FELT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE WILL BE REMEMBERED. AND I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE SEEING PLAY OUT RIGHT NOW AS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO JUST LINE THIS ROUTE FOR THIS ARRIVAL. AND EVERYBODY HERE STILL TALKING ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO JUST HONOR AND RESPECT AND SHOW THE FAMILY THAT THEY ARE HERE TO SUPPORT AND THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FORGET THE SACRIFICE THAT MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES MADE. AND THEY WANT TO ALSO LET THE FAMILY KNOW THAT THEY AREN’T GOING TO BE ALONE. EVEN 15, 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE PEOPLE HERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND HELP THEM THROUGH WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY NEED. WAVERLE FOR NOW, I’M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU. YEAH, MADDIE, I THINK THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE’VE HEARD THIS MORNING ABOUT NOAH JONES IS HOW DEDICATED HE WAS. HE HAD A GREAT SENSE OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. SO IT WASN’T JUST THAT HE WAS SERVING THE COUNTRY, BUT HE WAS ALSO SERVING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE HE LIVED, WORKING WITH CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY FOR THE ROTC PROGRAM, MARTIAL ARTS, WORKING AND TEACHING THERE. AND SO REALLY JUST KIND OF GIVES YOU A GLIMPSE OF WHO HE WAS, YOU KNOW? AND SO WE WANT TO GO, WE WANT TO EXCUSE ME, I’M SORRY. BEFORE TJ ARRIVED BACK HOME TO NEBRASKA, FLAGS WERE AT HALF STAFF. THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS, THEY WERE ASKED TO ATTEND. THE FALLEN SOLDIERS ARRIVAL. STATE CAPTAIN SCOTT KNUDSEN SAID HE EXPECTED TO TURN OUT FROM ACROSS THE STATE. WE WILL STAND AT ATTENTION DURING THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER FROM THE FUNERAL TO THE FUNERAL, COACH. PATRIOT GUARD ALSO PLANS TO BE ON HAND FOR THE VISITATION. YOU JUST SAW THERE WHEN MADDIE AUGUSTINE SHOWING US THAT FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. THEY’RE ALSO GOING TO BE AVAILABLE FOR FUNERAL SERVICES IF NEEDED. WELL, THE ROUTE STARTS AT LINDBERGH DRIVE AND DAWES EXPRESSWAY. A MOTORCADE IS GOING TO TRAVEL WEST ON STORES TO SORENSEN PARKWAY. SORENSEN PARKWAY IS ACTUALLY THE LONGEST STRETCH THE PROCESSION IS GOING TO FOLLOW FROM 30TH TO 56TH. THEN THE MOTORCADE WILL TRAVEL NORTH ON 56TH UNTIL THEY REACH FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. SO A LOT OF TIME TO LINE UP AS THE PROCESSION HAS YET TO START. OPD ASKING, THOUGH, THAT PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT JUST BE A LITTLE BIT MINDFUL. YOU’RE GOING TO NEED TO ASK PERMISSION TO PARK IN PRIVATE BUSINESS. LOTS AND DON’T BLOCK DRIVEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS OR OF COURSE, THE MOTORCADE ITSELF. BE RESPECTFUL AROUND THAT. MASTER SERGEANT T JONES GRADUATED FROM BELLEVUE WEST HIGH SCHOOL IN 2001. HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY RESERVES IN OH SIX AS A WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC, WAS THEN DEPLOYED TO KUWAIT IN 2009 AND THEN AGAIN IN 2019. T JONES RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS AND DECORATIONS, INCLUDING THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL. ARMY COMMENDATION, COMMENDATION MEDAL AND SEVERAL OTHERS. T JONES WAS PROMOTED AFTER HIS DEATH TO SERGEANT FIRST CLASS TO MASTER SERGEANT. WITHIN THE LAST FEW DAYS. WE’RE GOING TO GO BACK OUT LIVE TO KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S PETE CUDDIHY, JUST OUTSIDE OF EPPLEY AIRFIELD PETE. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING RIGHT NOW? YEAH, WAVERLE. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO APOLOGIZE. I WASN’T IGNORING YOU BEFORE. I COULDN’T HEAR WE WERE HAVING A TECHNICAL ISSUE, BUT BEHIND ME HERE IS THE OMAHA FIRE DEPARTMENT. YOU CAN SEE TWO CRUISERS ACROSS, AND THEY’RE HANGING A GIANT FLAG. THAT’S WHERE WE’RE EXPECTING THE PROCESSION TO COME THROUGH. WE’RE SEEING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE MAKE THEIR WAY HERE AS WE’RE EXPECTING THIS TO START PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT 5 TO 10 MINUTES. AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE’RE TALKING TO ARE VETERANS WHO SAY AFTER SPENDING THEIR TIME OVERSEAS, THEY WANT TO HONOR SOMEONE WHO LOST THEIR LIFE FOR ALL OF US. NOW, WE DO EXPECT THIS TO START VERY SOON. SO I’M GOING TO STEP OUT OF THE WAY. WE’RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A LIVE LOOK HERE. AS WE EXPECT THE PROCESSION TO MAKE ITS WAY ANY MOMENT NOW. AND JUST WHILE WE’RE WAITING HERE, WE ARE GOING TO GET SOUND FROM ONE OF THE VETERANS WHO WE SPOKE TO EARLIER, KATY EILERS, WHO SPENT TIME OVERSEAS. AND SHE TOLD US WHY SHE’S HERE TO SUPPORT MAJOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES. I COME BECAUSE THEY’RE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THEY NON-BINARY OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE SOMEONE NEEDS TO REMEMBER THEM. AND REMEMBER THAT THIS COSTS US REAL LIFE. AND IT’S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU SEE IT ON TV. DEFINITELY. ARE YOU? AND SO RIGHT NOW I’M JOINED BY OMAHA MAYOR JOHN EWING JR. MAYOR EWING, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE BEFORE THIS. WELL, WE WERE AT THE DIGNIFIED TRANSFER WITH THE FAMILY AND SOME OF THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, GOVERNOR AND MAYOR. RUSTY HIKE AND CONGRESSMAN BACON AND CONGRESSMAN. WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TODAY? JUST SEEING THE THE OUTPOUR OF SUPPORT. I MEAN, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, WE’RE AT ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE ROUTE. BUT IF YOU GO DOWN ALL THE WAY, THOSE EIGHT MILES, THERE’S PEOPLE WAITING, WAVING FLAGS. WHAT’S THAT LIKE SEEING THE NEBRASKA COMMUNITY, THE OMAHA COMMUNITY COMING OUT IN SUPPORT? SURE. IT REMINDS ME A LOT OF WHEN WE HAVE AN OFFICER THAT DIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY, HOW PATRIOTIC AND HOW CARING OUR COMMUNITY IS. AND I THINK THAT’S THE THING THAT I WANT THIS FAMILY TO SEE TODAY IS THE SUPPORT, THE CARE, AND THE CONCERN THAT THE PEOPLE OF OMAHA AND THE PEOPLE OF NEBRASKA HAVE FOR THEM AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS VERY TOUGH, TRAGIC LOSS. AND IT’S SOMETHING IN WAR. I THINK MANY OF US DON’T EXPECT IT TO HIT CLOSE TO HOME. YOU DON’T EXPECT IT TO BE SOMEONE FROM NEBRASKA. WHAT IS THAT LIKE? WELL, THIS IS THE FIRST DIGNIFIED TRANSFER I’VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN. SO IT’S REALLY QUITE SAD AND REALLY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH AS YOU WATCH THE FAMILY, AS YOU TALK TO THE FAMILY AND YOU RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR LOVED ONE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE. SO IT’S VERY DIFFICULT, AS HARD OF A DAY AS IT IS. IS THERE A PART OF YOU THAT IT’S KIND OF BEAUTIFUL TO SEE HOW EVERYBODY COMES TOGETHER OVER A LOSS LIKE THIS, OVER ONE OF OUR OWN? YES. THAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT TODAY IS THE SUPPORT THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WERE ABLE TO SHOW TO THE FAMILY, AS WELL AS ALSO THEN THE COMMUNITY AS THEY LINE THIS ROUTE AND AS THEY SHARE THEIR AMERICAN FLAGS AND THEIR HEARTS WITH THE FAMILY. AND IT WAS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO JUST SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH THE FAMILY TODAY. SO WHAT DID YOU SAY TO THE FAMILY WHEN YOU SAW THEM? WHAT WAS THAT? WHAT WAS THAT LIKE? I OFFERED THEM MY CONDOLENCES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF OMAHA. LET THEM KNOW THAT WE WOULD BE PRAYING FOR THEM AND THAT WE WERE WITH THEM ON THIS JOURNEY, AND THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. MARY EWING, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU TALKING. I BELIEVE THE PROCESSION IS STARTING NOW, SO WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LIVE LOOK. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. OKAY. THANKS. EVERYONE ELSE, I CAN GET THE CABLE. I CAN PULL THE CABLE. THAT WAS IT. DID HE MISS IT? WHAT IS THAT? THE WHOLE THING WE JUST SAW. WE JUST SAW THE PROCESSION GO BY. RIGHT NOW IT’S GOING TO BE MAKING ITS WAY FURTHER DOWN DAWES EXPRESSWAY AGAIN. PEOPLE ARE MAKING THEIR WAY OVER. IT LOOKS LIKE MANY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE GETTING IN CARS AND FOLLOWING IT DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE CEMETERY. BUT YEAH, IT IT WAS SOMBER AND IT WAS DEFINITELY, IT WAS A MOMENT OF PEACE AND, AND SILENCE HERE, BUT WE’RE GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU. WAVERLE. ALL RIGHT, PETE. THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, JUST HEARING FROM OMAHA MAYOR JOHN EWING JUNIOR TALKING ABOUT THE THE DIGNITARIES THAT WERE THERE AS THE PLANE LANDED CARRYING MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS, GOVERNOR JIM PILLEN, RUSTY HIKE, MAYOR BELLEVUE, CONGRESSMAN DON BACON AND OTHERS. WE’RE GOING TO SEND IT TO. FOLLOWING THAT PROCESSION TO THE STORE’S EXPRESSWAY, THAT’S WHERE WE FIND SAMANTHA PASTORINO SAMANTHA. WAVERLE. IT IS A FULL BRIDGE HERE ON FLORENCE BOULEVARD, RIGHT ABOVE THE STORE’S EXPRESSWAY. THAT PROCESSION IS ABOUT TO FOLLOW AS IT HEADS FROM EPPLEY. WE SAW THE OPD TRAFFIC UNIT JUST ABOUT A MILE AHEAD AS THEY’RE CLEARING THE WAY FOR THIS PROCESSION. OF COURSE, MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS DIED MARCH 1ST AFTER AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT ATTACK. NOW, 21 DAYS LATER, HE IS BACK HOME. WE’VE BEEN HEARING THIS ALL MORNING, BUT SO MANY PEOPLE FROM BELLEVUE, FROM OMAHA, PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T EVEN KNOW TIETJENS ARE HERE TO HONOR HIS LIFE AND THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THAT HE MADE FOR THIS COUNTRY. NOW, AS SOON AS WE SEE THIS PROCESSION COME AROUND THE STORE’S EXPRESSWAY, WE’LL TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. BUT WHILE WE WAIT FOR THAT, I WANT TO SHARE SOME THINGS THAT I LEARNED ABOUT TEACHINGS FROM HIS OBITUARY. IT SAYS HE WAS A DEVOTED HUSBAND, FATHER, SON, IDENTICAL TWIN BROTHER AND ESTEEMED SERVICEMAN. HE GREW UP IN AN ARMY FAMILY. IT SAID THAT HIS FATHER SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE AND THEN THE ARMY RESERVES. AFTER HE WITNESSED BOTH HIS BROTHERS DEPLOYMENTS. THAT’S WHAT ULTIMATELY INSPIRED HIM TO ENLIST IN 2006, WHEN HE WAS ONLY 23 YEARS OLD. DURING HIS TIME IN THE SERVICE, HE GOT MULTIPLE AWARDS, INCLUDING THE PURPLE HEARTS, THE SERVICE MEDAL AND THE ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL AND A BUNCH OF OTHERS. NOW, I BELIEVE THAT PROCESSION IS ABOUT TO FOLLOW. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE WHILE WE WATCH THIS COME THROUGH. WAVERLE YEAH, THAT PROCESSION HAS NOW GONE PAST THE STORE’S EXPRESSWAY, WHERE WE ARE ON FLORENCE BOULEVARD. YOU SAW PEOPLE SALUTING AS IT WENT UNDER US ON THAT EXPRESSWAY. CARS STOPPED ON FLORENCE BOULEVARD. ALSO ALL TO HONOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. WAVERLE, BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, SAMANTHA, THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO IT’S NOW HEADED IN THAT LONGEST STRETCH OF THE PROCESSION THAT’S FOLLOWING SORENSEN PARKWAY TO NORTH 56 KETV NEWSWATCH 7 MADISON PERALEZ LIVE NEAR SORENSON AND 30TH, WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE LINED UP. MADISON. YEAH, WE REALLY WE ARE HERE AT 30TH AND DAWSON AND THIS HAS BEEN A BUSY STREET ALL MORNING AND IT HAS JUST BEEN A WAVE OF SILENCE THAT HAS FALLEN THROUGH. I’M GOING TO PAN OUT OF THE WAY SO THAT WE CAN SEE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT HAVE BLOCKED OFF THOSE STREETS TO MAKE THIS WAVE OF SILENCE POSSIBLE. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE MAYOR GO BY TODAY, AND NOW WE ARE SEEING THE POLICE, THE MOTORCADE DRIVE THROUGH. I’M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE HERE. EVERYONE STANDING IN LINE HONORING MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. AND NOW THEY ARE HEADED BACK OVER TO THE TO FOREST LAWN CEMETERY AS THEY’RE ABOUT TO GO AND HONOR AND LAY HIM TO REST BACK TO YOU. WAVERLE. ALL RIGHT. MADISON. THANK YOU. SO MOTORCADE STILL TRAVELING ALONG. SORENSEN PARKWAY. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT 42ND AND PETE CUDDIHY RIGHT OUTSIDE OF EPPLEY AIRFIELD SPOKE TO MAYOR JOHN EWING JR. HE TALKED ABOUT ALL THE DIGNITARIES THAT WERE THERE THAT MET WITH THE FAMILY AS MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES MADE THEIR WAY INTO EPPLEY AIRFIELD LANDING JUST AFTER 1:00. HE SAYS THAT HE’S WANTING THE FAMILY TO SEE HOW OMAHA IS SUPPORTING THEM AND LINING THE PROCESSION. AS WE GET CLOSER, WE’LL SEE THE MOTORCADE CARRYING MASTER SERGEANT T JONES. BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, UNION TALKED ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT AND SAD IT WAS. HE SAID THIS WAS HIS FIRST TIME EXPERIENCING SOMETHING LIKE THIS. YOU DID SPEAK TO THE FAMILY AND HE WANTS TO HONOR THEM AND GIVE THEM SPACE TO GRIEVE. AND, YOU KNOW, SHOWING THAT ALL THE PEOPLE LINED UP, THEY’RE REALLY SHOWING THE SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY, BUT ALSO SHOWING SUPPORT FOR OTHER SERVICE MEMBERS AND A LOT OF VETERANS AND ACTIVE SERVICE MEMBERS ALSO LINING UP. AND THEY SAY IT’S IMPORTANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY’RE OVER THERE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM. AND SO TO HAVE THAT SUPPORT REALLY SHOWS IN WRAPPING THEIR ARMS AROUND AND HOW IMPORTANT THESE SERVICE MEMBERS MEAN TO US. HERE COMES THE MOTORCADE. NOW. NOW, IF YOU ARE ALONG THE PROCESSION, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKE ROOM AS YOUR OF YOUR MAKE ROOM FOR THE PROCESSION AS IT GOES ALONG. SORENSEN PARKWAY MAKES ITS WAY TO FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. WE’RE GOING TO SEND IT OUT TO KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN’S BETH CARLSON, WHO’S AT 456. WAVERLE. THAT’S RIGHT. I’M JUST OFF CAMERA AS THE FIRST MOTORCYCLES IN THE PROCESSION FOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES BEGIN THE FINAL TURN HERE OFF OF 56TH AND SORENSEN. JUST A FEW MINUTES AWAY FROM FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, WHERE T JONES WILL BE REUNITED WITH FAMILY NEARBY. HERE ON SCENE, WE’VE SEEN SEVERAL MOTORCYCLES ALONG THE ROUTE, BUT MAINLY WE HAVE CROWDS THAT HAVE GATHERED AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON THIS TURN. NEARLY 100 PEOPLE ON MULTIPLE CORNERS OF THIS STREET AWAITING WITH FLAGS TAKING THEIR HATS AND CAPS OFF IN SUPPORT OF PREPARING THEMSELVES QUIETLY IN PATIENTS FOR A MOMENT THAT IS ABOUT TO COME. WE DO KNOW THAT THE PROCESSION NOW ON ITS WAY CLOSELY HERE OFF OF SORENSEN WITH THE FAMILY AND MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES AS THEY MAKE THEIR FINAL TURN. WE’VE GOT SOME FLAGS THAT PEOPLE ARE PROUDLY WAVING THAT THEY’VE STUCK IN THE GROUND RIGHT HERE OFF OF THIS CORNER, PREPARING FOR THIS MOMENT. SO MANY PEOPLE TODAY SPEAKING THAT KNEW HIM, THAT WERE STRANGERS, ALL FOR A MOMENT LIKE THIS. TAKE A MOMENT. RIGHT THERE, A SECOND LINE OF MOTORCYCLES MAKES THEIR WAY THROUGH THAT TURN. THIS INTERSECTION IS CURRENTLY BLOCKED OFF AS WE AWAIT. THAT FINAL TURN, NOW MAKING ITS WAY TOWARDS FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME. WAVERLE BACK TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, MADISON, THANK YOU. SEEING ALL THOSE PEOPLE LINED UP THERE WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY PROCESSION IS NOW HEADING TO FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. THAT’S GOING TO BE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH T JONES. KETV NEWSWATCH 7 MADDIE AUGUSTINE IS LIVE. HEY, WAVERLE. YEAH, WE JUST SAW THE FIRST FEW MOTORCYCLES FROM THE OMAHA POLICE DEPARTMENT PULL INTO FOREST LAWN CEMETERY HERE. SO WE ARE EXPECTING THIS PROCESSION TO BE HERE IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. I WANT TO DESCRIBE TO YOU WHAT’S AROUND ME RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF ME. WE HAVE MEMBERS OF THE OMAHA FIRE DEPARTMENT INSIDE THE GATES. WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS. THERE’S PROBABLY ABOUT 200 PEOPLE OUT HERE, AND YET IT’S NEARLY SILENT. IT JUST SPEAKS TO THE SOMBERNESS OF THIS MOMENT, BUT ALSO THE UNITY BETWEEN THIS COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER TO HONOR A HOMEGROWN HERO, SOMEONE WHO DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO SERVING OUR COUNTRY AND GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. AND EVERYONE I SPOKE TO TODAY WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT BE STRANGERS TO THE JONES FAMILY, IT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO THEM TO BE HERE TO SHOW THAT SUPPORT AND TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. THIS IS THE PATH THAT THEY’LL TAKE. YOU CAN SEE IF YOU ZOOM OUT. I’M GOING TO STEP OUT NOW BECAUSE WE’RE STARTING TO SEE THE BEGINNING OF THIS MOTORCADE. YOU CAN SEE THE FLASHING LIGHTS AT THE FRONT WITH THOSE OMAHA POLICE DEPARTMENT MOTORCYCLES LEADING THE WAY RIGHT BEHIND IT. MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES. THE MOTORCADE NOW REACHING THE PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS. AND THIS WILL BE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES. EVERYONE HERE IS JUST READY TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS. YOU JUST WATCHED THAT MOTORCADE MOTORCADE GO BY FULL OF STATE PATROL, BELLEVUE POLICE, OMAHA POLICE, AND OF COURSE, THE FAMILY OF MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. WAVERLE. I’M GOING TO SEND IT BACK TO YOU IN STUDIO. ALL RIGHT. MADISON. THANK YOU. MOTORCADE AGAIN. ARRIVING AT FOREST LAWN CEMETERY, MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES, ONE OF SIX SERVICE MEMBERS KILLED ON MARCH 1ST IN A DRONE ATTACK IN KUWAIT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR OUR COVERAGE OF THE PROCESSION HONORING MASTER SERGEANT NOAH JONES. AND WE’RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TAKE A LIVE LOOK AT THE FOREST LAWN CEMETERY. IF WE CAN PULL THAT UP, WE’LL BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU AS THE PATRIOT GUARD THERE, AS WELL AS FAMILY, THAT ARRIVAL OF THE SERGEANT NOAH T JONES. WELL, YOU’RE WATCHING THE PROCESSION FOR MASTER SERGEANT NOAH. IT JUST ENDED AT FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, WHERE HE WILL BE LAID TO REST IN ABOUT A WEEK. ALLEGIANCE DIED ON MARCH 1ST IN KUWAIT IN AN ATTACK IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE WAR WITH IRAN. AGAIN, THAT’S A LIVE LOOK THERE AT FOREST LAWN. AND THAT’S WHERE HE’LL BE. THAT WILL BE HIS FINAL RESTING PLACE. WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THIS COVERAGE OF THE PROCESSION HONORING MASTER SERGEANT NOAH TIETJENS. YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE ON KETV.COM AND THE KETV MOBILE APP. WE’LL SEE YOU ON KETV NEWSWATCH SEVEN AT SIX.

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Omaha announces procession route for Master Sgt. Noah Tietjens

Updated: 2:54 PM CDT Mar 21, 2026

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The city of Omaha will honor Master Sgt. Noah Tietjens with a dignified arrival and procession.The Bellevue native was killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait on March 1.Omaha police said they will assist in escorting the body of the 42-year-old from Eppley Airfield to Forest Lawn Cemetery.Tietjens is set to arrive at Eppley Airfield around 1 p.m. Saturday, officials said. The public will not have access to the area of the airport where Tietjens is arriving.Omaha police said citizens are encouraged to show their support along the motorcade route. The route will start at Lindberg Drive and Storz Expressway and take Storz Expressway to Sorenson Parkway and follow that to North 56th Street, traveling north until the arrival at the entrance of Forest Lawn Cemetery, officials said.Bellevue prepares to honor fallen soldier Noah TietjensOmaha police asked citizens to allow room for vehicles, as well as: Park in compliance with parking regulations Ask permission before parking in private business parking lots Do not block private driveways Be patient if in traffic, and expect delays along the route Do not illegally park along the route, block intersections, or impede the motorcade. Citizens are encouraged to utilize interstate overpasses for viewing, rather than stopping alongside the interstate.A visitation will take place at Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Omaha from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 27.The funeral is set for Saturday, March 28, in Bellevue. Tietjens will then be buried in a private service at Forest Lawn Cemetery.RELATED COVERAGE: Noah Tietjens’ former coworkers remember his legacyMake sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

OMAHA, Neb. —

The city of Omaha will honor Master Sgt. Noah Tietjens with a dignified arrival and procession.

The Bellevue native was killed in an Iranian drone attack in Kuwait on March 1.

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Omaha police said they will assist in escorting the body of the 42-year-old from Eppley Airfield to Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Tietjens is set to arrive at Eppley Airfield around 1 p.m. Saturday, officials said. The public will not have access to the area of the airport where Tietjens is arriving.

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Omaha police said citizens are encouraged to show their support along the motorcade route.

The route will start at Lindberg Drive and Storz Expressway and take Storz Expressway to Sorenson Parkway and follow that to North 56th Street, traveling north until the arrival at the entrance of Forest Lawn Cemetery, officials said.

Bellevue prepares to honor fallen soldier Noah Tietjens

Omaha police asked citizens to allow room for vehicles, as well as:

• Park in compliance with parking regulations
• Ask permission before parking in private business parking lots
• Do not block private driveways
• Be patient if in traffic, and expect delays along the route
• Do not illegally park along the route, block intersections, or impede the motorcade. Citizens are encouraged to utilize interstate overpasses for viewing, rather than stopping alongside the interstate.

A visitation will take place at Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Omaha from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 27.

The funeral is set for Saturday, March 28, in Bellevue. Tietjens will then be buried in a private service at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

RELATED COVERAGE: Noah Tietjens’ former coworkers remember his legacy

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |