Emily Johnson, the sister of First Lieutenant David Johnson says, "The night before he was deployed, he was laying next to me, and I was asking him questions like, are you scared? you're gonna be okay, right?" I didn't want him to go.
One by one, family members share their vivid memories of First Lieutenant David Johnson.
Some, like his father, using his own son's humor to uplift the crowd.
Andrew Johnson says, "David would not want us to feel sorry for him. Although he'd really like to see you all here. He would most likely say, "suck it up."
While David's brother Michael says, "He definitely loved the army. Whenever we would hang out, he always had something to fill my ear with about army."
A Major General of the Army then proceeds to present three medals, one of them a bronze star, the army's third highest honor for bravery.
Major General Richard Longo says, "This is not peewee soccer where everybody gets a medal. We are very thoughtful about whom we present a bronze star."
Later, the casket is taken to Veterans Memorial in the city park, where hundreds gather for the black hawk flyover.
And the twenty one gun salute, to remember and honor a hometown hero.
Someone they're all proud to call their very own.
Keith Qualmann was Lt. Johnson's next-door neighbor, and says, " It's too young. too young to die. It's just a tragedy and it shouldnt've happened."
Rep. Tom Petri from Wisconsin's 6th district says, "I think it made all of us better Americans to hear the story of David Johnson and the sacrifice he did for the country."
Mayor James Grigg of Horicon says, "Words cannot describe the tragic loss of the Johnson family. Such a young man in his life, all ahead of him, it's a tragic loss for the family, our community and our country."
