ALEXANDRIA BAY — The village and other area communities gathered to welcome home a fallen 10th Mountain Division soldier Thursday.

Residents lined Route 12 as the motorcade for Pfc. Jack T. Sweet made its way through the village to Costello Funeral Home on Church Street.

"I think the community is devastated," said Cynthia L. Simpson, a friend of the Sweet family.

Pfc. Sweet, 19, was killed by a roadside bomb Feb. 8 near Jawwalah, Iraq. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Members of five area fire and rescue departments — Alexandria Bay, Three Mile Bay, Clayton, Redwood and Plessis — as well as the local chapter of the American Legion and other area organizations also came out to show their support for Pfc. Sweet's family.

"This is a small town. Everybody sticks together," said Alexandria Bay Fire Chief Robert G. Service II. "So whatever they need, we're going to give them."

The motorcade made a detour off Route 12 to pass Alexandria Central School, which Pfc. Sweet attended. Most of the students, some visibly upset, at the K-12 school lined the walkway outside the building. The youngest children remained inside, but watched from their classroom windows.

As the motorcade approached, the Select Choir sang the national anthem and the hearse paused in front of the main entrance to the school for a moment of silence.

Shawna M. Kernehan, 17, daughter of Robert and Kelly Kernehan, was a friend of Pfc. Sweet and is a student at Alexandria Central. She said it was good for the students to be able to pay tribute to their former schoolmate.

"I'm glad we did it," Shawna said.

After stopping at the school, the motorcade proceeded to the funeral home, where calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today.

Pfc. Sweet's aunt, LuAnne E. Rowsam, said her family appreciated the support from the area, calling it "phenomenal."

"And the school kids were just amazing," she said.

Mrs. Rowsam said her nephew had always dreamed of being a soldier, and while his death has been difficult for the family, it helps to know he died doing what he loved.

"I think that's a little solace for us all," she said.

The funeral for Pfc. Sweet will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, 46489 County Route 1.

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To see photos from the community tribute to Pfc. Sweet, click here: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/section/multimedia