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Thousands Line Funeral Procession Route for Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith

Michael Edward Miller

The last of the funerals for the five Chattanooga shooting victims happened on Tuesday.  U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith was interred in the Chattanooga National Cemetery, where soldiers and sailors have been buried for about 150 years.  It’s the same cemetery where another victim of the shootings, Marine Staff Sergeant David Wyatt, was laid to rest last Friday.

Just as they had done for Wyatt's funeral, thousands of area residents lined up for miles along the procession route.  They were waving American flags and saluting, showing Randall Smith’s family the community supports them, and mourns with them.

Susie Alvarez arrived early to join the crowd.

"It’s just a sad day and a proud day, if that makes any sense," she said.

On Monday, U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann introduced legislation to ensure the five fallen service members are awarded Purple Hearts.

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