In the early morning heat, a charter plane landed on an airstrip at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport bearing one of Floyd County’s heroes back to the land where he was born and raised.

As the engines cooled down a silence fell on those gathered to honor the memory of Sgt. Jeffrey Jordan. An honor guard saluted their fallen comrade, and Jordan’s family stepped forward to tearfully welcome their loved one home.

Jordan, who served with the Calhoun-based 108th Cavalry Georgia National Guard Unit, was killed in Afghanistan last week in an ambush by Taliban militants.

Two other soldiers from Jordan’s Guard unit were also killed — Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula, and Staff Sgt. John C. Beale, 39, of Riverdale.

A procession that included National Guard, county and city law enforcement, firefighters, the American Legion, Patriot Guard Riders — and in many ways the citizens of Floyd County — escorted Jordan down Martha Berry Highway and Turner McCall Boulevard to his temporary resting place at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home.

Earlier Thursday morning, members of the Korean War Veterans Association put up flags in front of the funeral home to mark the soldier’s return.

Funeral services for the 21-year-old will be at 11 a.m. today at Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church with the Rev. Rob Miller and the Rev. Robert Vines officiating. Interment will follow with full military honors at Oaknoll Memorial Gardens.

Continuing support The memories were all too clear for Jan Johnson as the plane landed. Her son Justin Johnson was killed in Iraq in April 2004 when a roadside bomb detonated as his Humvee passed in Baghdad.

“As a mom who has gone through this,” Johnson said, “the support from the community means a tremendous amount to the family.”

The support from one group, the Patriot Guard Riders, held a solid place in her heart, and now riding under the handle of “the General,” Johnson coordinated the riders to escort Jordan — returning the favor once given.

Many of the riders never have served in the military, Johnson said, but have mobilized in the name of protecting soldiers’ families.

“Not having served before this is their way of serving,” Johnson said. “They can’t actually put the uniform on, so they are here for the soldiers’ families when they come home.”

The riders are here for the escorting of all soldiers when they come back from the wars, said Johnson, be it in a funeral procession or parade.

“I’m just thankful that I live in a community that honors the sacrifices these young men make and shows appreciation to the family for their sacrifices as well,” County Commissioner Chad Whitefield said while watching the escort leaving the airport.

As the procession passed by Berry College, several hundred people lined the roadside in tribute to Jordan’s ultimate sacrifice.

And when the mile-long motorcade made the turn from Martha Berry Boulevard onto Turner McCall Boulevard, the hundreds gathered there were silent, hands pressed over their hearts with American flags waving.

“I taught Jeffrey when he was in the seventh grade,” said Pat Hagerstrand, pointing out a photo of him in an old Model Middle School yearbook. “Teachers make sacrifices for their students, and this is the first one that made a sacrifice for me.”

Hagerstrand said she remembers he was always such a serious boy in her class, and she was pleasantly surprised when she looked up his picture and saw his smile.

“I’m out here to honor him,” said Angie Minge, who was standing with Hagerstrand along with a throng of observers gathered outside Floyd Medical Center.

“My daughter went to school with him,” added Minge. “But even if we hadn’t known him, we would still be out here.”

“I’m here to show respect because he has given his life for our country,” said Susan Ford, who also stood outside FMC awaiting the procession’s passage.

Lending a hand

“This young man went off to war and left his family behind,” Cmdr. Mike Wallace of the American Legion Post 5 said. “But he went with the knowledge his family would be taken care of. We need to take care of that family.”

Jordan left behind his 1-year-old son, Tailor, and his wife, Lacey, among other family members.

“This young man went off to defend his nation. Politically, whether people agree with (the war) or not, he left his family, he left his job, and he left his young son who will never know his father,” Wallace said.

Donations can be made to the Tailor Jordan fund at Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union. The American Legion Post 5 on Shorter Avenue will also conduct a fundraising bingo night to raise additional funds to assist the family.

“Sgt. Jordan left our community as a proud soldier representing the greatest country on earth. And he did that because he was called to defend that country and guarantee the liberties we have,” said state Sen. Preston Smith, who was at the airport.

“I believe we wouldn’t have these liberties and freedoms but for that sacrifice. He and others have paid the ultimate price for me and my family and those in this community.”

Remembering the task

Among the many who gathered at the airport to honor Floyd County’s fallen soldier, Raquel Tarleton and her daughter Megan also hoped the community will use this sacrifice to remember all those in the U.S. military — those at war in far off lands and those readying for deployment.

She wore a yellow T-shirt proclaiming her son is a U.S. Marine and paid her respects in silence as the honor guard escorted the flag-draped casket of Jordan off the plane.

“I just want people to remember that we are at war,” Tarleton said. “We’ve been at war so long that we’re not talking about it much anymore. It takes something like this for us to remember.”

Her son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Tarle­ton, has spent the past year and a half training for his eventual overseas deployment. She said he asks her if everyday people know about the sacrifices that soldiers make, even when they’re in training.

The Marines wake at 3 o’clock in the morning to march miles, she said, and lately have been in the Mojave Desert training for the harsh climates of Afghanistan and Iraq.

“He’s got mortar shells in his pack, and they’re out in the desert with grenades exploding all around them — just to get prepared to go fight for the country,” Tarleton said. “He does this on a daily basis.”

Staff Writer Elizabeth Cady contributed to this report.