Over the next two days, MacDill Air Force Base will serve as the transfer point for two Tampa Bay Area fallen soldiers killed in a bomb blast two Sundays ago in Afghanistan.
Arriving Today
The transfer for Army Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija is scheduled today, Tuesday at 11 a.m. under the care of the Air Force 6th Air Mobility Wing and with Seija's family on the flightline to welcome him home.
After a ceremony on the tarmac, an escort will accompany the family and SSgt. Seija casket from MacDill AFB on a route where the public can view the honor escort passing:
- Depart MacDill AFB approximately 1130-1145 at the Bayshore Gate
- North on Bayshore Boulevard
- East on Platt Street
- North on Florida Avenue
- East on Jackson Street
- North on Jefferson Street past the Hillsborough County Courthouse to the Interstate 275 connector
- North on I-275 and exit on Sligh Avenue
- West on Sligh Avenue past Leto High School
- East on Broad Street to North Dale Mabry and the Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 N. Dale Mabry.
Visitation at the Gonzalez Funeral Home is scheduled today/Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. The Funeral Service for SSgt. Seija is set Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Gonzalez Home followed by his internment at 1 p.m. the Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Ave., in Bushnell.
Arriving Wednesday
The primary next of kin for Army SPC Clarence Williams III will be on the tarmac Wednesday for the transfer of their loved one at MacDill AFB Wednesday at 9 a.m.
The Brooksville soldier was killed in the same bomb blast with Seija and four others in Wardak province, Afghanistan. Williams’ casket will be escorted from the Flightline to the Carnegie Funeral Home in Chiefland.
The public is encouraged to line the route for Wednesday's honor escort of Fallen Hero Army SPC Williams III following a brief ceremony on the tarmac.
The Honor Escort including personnel from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Florida Highway Patrol and the Hernando County Sheriff's
Office will depart MacDill AFB through the Bayshore Blvd. gate around 9:30. The route:
- North on Bayshore Boulevard
- East on Platt Street
- North on Florida Avenue
- East on Jackson Street
- North on Jefferson Street to the I-275 connector
- North on I-275
- Continuing onto Interstate 75
- Exiting at State Road 50 in Hernando County
- West on SR 50 and continue onto Jefferson Street through downtown Brooksville
- North onto U.S. 98, then north onto U.S. 19
- Final destination Carnegie Funeral Home in Chiefland
A memorial service for Williams is scheduled today/Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Grace World Outreach Church, 20366 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville.
