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Wayne Geiger to be laid to rest |
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Thursday, 25 October 2007 |
 Army Corporal Wayne M. Geiger, 23, lost his life in Iraq on Oct. 18 in the line of duty. Members of the community will have the opportunity to honor this hero at a memorial service Saturday in Lone Pine, as well as when a military motorcade escorting him to his final resting place passes through their towns Saturday morning. Photo courtesy the Geiger family Register Staff 10-25-2007
Inyo County will welcome one of its heroes home Friday, and say goodbye Saturday.
The community will salute and remember Army Corporal Wayne M. Geiger, 23, of Lone Pine, during funeral services Saturday in Lone Pine.
On Oct. 18, Geiger became the first Inyo County service member to be killed in combat in Iraq when an improvised explosive device struck his vehicle while on patrol in Baghdad.
To honor Geiger’s sacrifice, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors ordered all U.S. flags at Inyo County buildings and facilities to fly at half staff, because “it is fitting and appropriate to honor this local hero who died in the line of duty, defending his country.”
Specialist Geiger was a member of the 2nd Platoon, H Company, 3rd Squad, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, at Camp Stryker, Baghdad.
Geiger is a 2003 graduate of Lone Pine High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in October, 2005, and was deployed to Iraq on Sept. 1, 2006.
Wayne is the son of Lt. Randy Geiger and Civil Officer Kim Geiger of the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, and the brother of Jessica Geiger.
Cpl. Wayne Geiger’s body will arrive at the Bishop airport on Friday, about 11:15 a.m., and be greeted by an honor guard. Anyone wishing to honor Cpl. Geiger by greeting him at the airport is welcome to do so.
On Saturday, residents will be able to pay their respects to the young soldier by pausing to observe the motorcade carrying Geiger home to Lone Pine as it passes through their community. The motorcade will leave Bishop at 9:50 a.m., arrive in Big Pine at approximately 10:15 a.m., pass through Independence at about 10:45 a.m. and arrive in Lone Pine at 11 a.m.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m. in the Lone Pine High School Gym. Those attending are asked to arrive by 10 a.m. so everyone can be seated when the ceremony starts. A graveside service will follow at the Mt. Whitney Cemetery in Lone Pine.
Afterward, a reception will be held at Statham Hall in Lone Pine.
(Note: condolences and remembrances can be sent to the Geiger family at a guest book online at http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/states/ca/lone-pine.)
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 12 December 2007 )
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