MANKATO, Minn. — Editor's Note: The video above originally aired Nov. 13, 2023.
The Mankato community will honor Sgt. Cade Wolfe as a fallen hero on Thursday, Jan. 4, as his remains return home after Wolfe died during a routine training mission in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11.
Wolfe, 24, graduated from Mankato East High School in 2018. He perished alongside four other servicemembers when the helicopter they were on crashed during a routine air refueling mission. Investigators said there was no indication of hostile actions.
The remains of Sgt. Wolfe are expected to arrive Thursday at the Mankato airport, which will be a private affair for the family. A hearse and accompanying vehicles are tentatively scheduled to leave the airport between 12:30 and 1:15 p.m., according to the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office Facebook page.
The processional route will wind through the cities of Eagle Lake and Mankato, passing Eagle Lake Elementary and Mankato East High School (Wolfe's former schools) before ending at Northview Mortuary. For full details on the route, click here for the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Facebook.
On Nov. 20, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ordered all United States and Minnesota flags at half-staff to honor Wolfe. The soldier has seen an outpouring of love and remembrances on social media following his death.
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