Services set for Aurora Marine killed in Nepal
Services have been set for the Aurora Marine who died while helping with relief efforts in Nepal.
A visitation and funeral will take place Wednesday for Cpl. Sara A. Medina, 23, a combat photographer who died along with five others May 12 when their helicopter crashed.
Medina's body will arrive at O'Hare International Airport around 12:40 p.m. today, her brother Luis Medina said. She'll travel by procession to Overman Jones Funeral Home in Plainfield, where family will gather privately.
On Wednesday, visitation will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at St. Mary Immaculate Parish, 15629 S. Rt. 59, in Plainfield, followed by a funeral at 5 p.m. with full military honors.
People are asked to join an honor flag line for Medina's arrival today at the northeast corner of Route 59 and Lockport Street in downtown Plainfield. People are asked to arrive at the site at 1:30 p.m., with the procession arriving at 3 p.m.
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The family plans additional services to follow in Durango, Mexico.
Medina joined the ROTC while she was a student at East Aurora High School. After graduating in 2010 and enlisting, she photographed Marines in South Korea, the Philippines, Japan, Australia and the United States officials said.
She and the other five service members who died May 12 were part of Joint Task Force 505, which arrived in Nepal April 29 to conduct humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations following the 7.9-magnitude earthquake April 25. Her helicopter crashed about 8 miles north of Charikot, Nepal, while supporting casualty evacuations, the Defense Department reported.