Italy and Milford Fire Departments honor Chris Kyle as funeral procession passes
The Italy and Milford Fire Departments join forces to honor fallen war hero Chris Kyle in anticipation of his funeral procession traveling along Highway 35 headed for Austin. Both Departments, along with community members, waited in the drizzle for more than an hour before the first police cars and motorcycles leading the procession began passing under the Dale Acres overpass around 9:30 a.m. (Barry Byers)
Members of the Italy and Milford Fire Departments answered a special call on Tuesday. Fire trucks and crews from both departments, as well as citizens from both towns, converged along the Dale Acres overpass which crosses over Highway 35 between Italy and Milford to honor fallen American war hero Chris “The Legend” Kyle. Kyle’s motorcade passed beneath the patriotic gathering during a 200-mile journey to Austin where he was to be buried at the Texas State Cemetery.
Thirty-eight year old Kyle was tragically killed on February 2, along with friend Chad Littlefield, by troubled U.S. Marine war veteran Eddie Ray Routh who joined Kyle and Littlefield at the Rough Creek Lodge shooting range in North Texas. Kyle was trying to help Routh work through his post-traumatic stress disorder, with assistance from Littlefield, when Routh apparently lost control and gunned both men down.
Kyle, an ex-Navy Seal, was considered to be an excellent sniper with up to 160 confirmed kills. As well as receiving two Purple Hearts — the U.S. decoration for servicemen wounded in action. Kyle earned seven medals for bravery — two Silver Stars and five Bronze Medals.
American Sniper: The autobiography of the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history