Fallen Hero Escort Today for Army Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija

The public is requested to line the streets today, July 17, as the fallen hero honor escort for Army Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija makes its way through Hillsborough County from MacDill Air Force Base to the Gonzalez Funeral Home on North Dale Mabry Highway.

The body of the fallen hero is scheduled to arrive at MacDill Air Force Base at 11 a.m., where "his family and friends will be there for the dignified transfer," according to a release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Seija, 31, of Tampa, was killed July 8 in Afghanistan in a roadside attack that killed also Army Sgt. Clarence Williams III, 23, of Brooksville and four other Americans, according to a Tampa Bay Times report. The six soldiers were riding in an armored vehicle in Wardak province, just south of Kabul, when an improvised explosive device went off.

Williams and Seija became the 27th and 28th Tampa Bay area service members to have died in Afghanistan, according to the report.

There will be an honor escort tomorrow as well, for fallen hero Army Spc. Clarence Williams III.

As noted, the fallen heroes "will be given honor escorts this week in a show of respect to the families and to allow the public a chance to honor these heroes and their families.

According to the report, the escorts are as follows:

July 17 For Fallen Hero Army Staff Sgt. Ricardo Seija

• Will arrive at MacDill Air Force Base at 11 a.m. His family and friends will be there for the dignified transfer.

• After a ceremony on the tarmac, the escort will depart around 11:30 to 11:45 a.m.

• The route from MacDill starts with an exist from the Bayshore Boulevard gate, north on Bayshore Boulevard to east on Platt Street, to north on Florida Avenue to east on Jackson Street to north on Jefferson Street to the 1-275 connector.

• From there the escort will exit on Sligh Avenue to Manhattan Avenue (past Leto High School), to east on Broad Street to north on Dale Mabry Highway to Gonzalez Funeral Home, 7209 North Dale Mabry Highway.

July 18 for Fallen Hero Army Spc. Clarence Williams III

• Will arrive at MacDill Air Force Base at 9 a.m.

• Following a ceremony, the escort (a contingent of personnel from HCSO, Florida Highway Patrol and the Hernando County Sheriff's Office) will depart MacDill through the Bayshore Boulevard gate at around 9:30. a.m.

• The escort will travel north on Bayshore Boulevard to east on Platt Street to north on Florida Avenue to east on Jackson Street to north on Jefferson Street to the I-275 connector and north.

• The escort will go through Hernando County and end at the Carnegie Funeral Home in Chiefland.

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