ANTWERP HONORS SERGEANT

ANTWERP — The body of Staff Sgt. Tyler E. Pickett returned home to the north country Monday.

Main Street in the village was lined with Sgt. Pickett's friends, schoolchildren, veterans and people who didn't even know the sergeant. They were there to show their respect for him and support for his wife, Kristy A., a village trustee and Republican deputy elections commissioner for Jefferson County.

"He involved himself from the very beginning," said Butch W. Schulz of Philadelphia, as he referred to Sgt. Pickett as "Pick." "He was the ultimate professional and always talked about his men and his mission."

Sgt. Pickett was killed June 8 in Kirkuk province, Iraq, in a truck-borne suicide attack. (See obituary, B4.) Eighteen other men from his unit, the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, also were injured in the attack.

People stood reminiscing about how they met Sgt. Pickett and the times they shared while he was stationed at Fort Drum. He was assigned to the post in November 2001 and was there until last fall when he was sent to the Middle East for the third time.

"He fourwheeled out to our party because our music was louder than theirs," said Crystal M. Prashaw of Antwerp. "He wanted to know what was going on. From the minute you met him, he was an instant friend."

Many waited for the procession in the sun for an hour, leaning on tailgates of trucks, handing out flags and talking quietly about their friend. The line of cars drove by once and the roar of 50 motorcycles of the Legion Riders was the only noise on the street. The caravan turned around, and as the cars passed for the second time, the crowd applauded. Friends embraced one another outside of Mike's Tavern, a place where Sgt. Pickett liked to frequent. Everyone lining the route agreed he was an all-around great guy who had a heart of gold.

Sgt. Pickett's body was returned to Fort Drum on Monday and then traveled through Philadelphia and Antwerp on the way to Gouverneur. Calling hours will be held at Green Funeral Home from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. today. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Antwerp and will be followed by a military service.