It's amazing how a community can come together sometimes.

For the past two weeks we've been covering the death of a local Marine who was killed in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Jason Barfield was just 22 years old when he was killed by an IED last Monday.

What makes this story unique is the fact that last Christmas we did a story on how he came home unexpectedly to surprise his family before he was deployed. It was such a great, heart-warming story.

Today, Jason's body made its final return home. Hundreds of people showed up at the airport to honor his memory. Hundreds more lined the streets from the airport to the funeral home.

All of the people we've talked to about Jason remembered him for his kindness as well as for his dedication to this country.

I am so grateful to live in a place with people like Lance Corporal Jason Barfield. They put themselves in harm's way willingly all to protect our freedom.

God bless the U.S.A. and our troops.