Another fallen soldier has come home. Monday, the City of Cedar Park paid tribute to a 23-year-old Fort Hood soldier who was killed last week in Iraq.

When Matthew Troy Morris left Cedar Park High School in 2002 he began a journey that took him half a world away. He is now home again, and the sacrifice he made is being remembered in a special way. Cedar Park fire fighters built an arch over FM 1431 using two ladder trucks. It created a symbolic gateway for the motorcade that brought Army Specialist Morris home.

“It is life, it’s very moving, but it is also reality and that is unfortunate,” said Leslie West.

West took a break from her job to watch the motorcade go by.

“He served his county, for whatever reason, good bad or indifferent, he did what he thought was right and he died for it, and I’m standing here because of him, and I wanted to show him and his family that I respect that,” said West.

A key part of the caravan is a group called the Patriot Guard Riders. Some take part to protect the fallen soldier's family from protestors. Others take part to provide something they never had.

“Most of them are veterans, themselves, Vietnam, and we all know how that ended and how poorly they were treated when they came back, and they said, never again, so we make it out mission to, never again,” said Diana Nelson.

Nelson’s husband was among the 70 riders who escorted Morris from the airport.

"It is the least that we can do, to honor them," said Nelson.

Riders, like Larry Connelly, have made this journey more than 60 times since the war began.

Courtesy

Army Specialist Matthew Troy Morris

“We had people from all over Central Texas who wanted to come for this hometown hero," said Connelly.

Connelly never met Army Specialist Morris or his family. That didn’t matter.

“Because he is a fellow soldier,” said Connelly.

Morris was never part of the fire department, but he was part of this town. And that is why the city made a point to welcome him home.

Funeral services will be held in Cedar Park. Graveside services will be held in Killeen.