PHOTO GALLERY: North Georgia turns out to salute fallen soldier

CORNELIA — People across North Georgia paused Thursday morning to pay tribute to a fallen soldier.

U.S. Army Cpl. Terrell J. Fuller, a native of Habersham County, was reported missing in action on Feb. 12, 1951. He was declared dead on Feb. 18, 1954.

A plane carrying Fuller’s remains arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta from Hawaii about 7:15 Thursday morning. Following a plane-side service by the U.S. Army National Guard Honor Guard, a motorcade including law enforcement officers, the Patriot Guard and Scouts traveled along I-85, I-985 and Ga. 365 into Toccoa.

Along the way, veterans, families and public safety personnel paused to wave flags, take photographs and salute the fallen hero.

On the Ga.385 bridge in Cornelia, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7720 Color Guard joined public safety personnel from Cornelia and Habersham County and the public in honoring Fuller.

“For me personally, it’s a fellow brother finally coming home and being laid to rest,” said Post 7720 Commander Bill Miles. “Most importantly, it’s closure for his family.”

Miles and other post members handed out American flags to children and adults gathered on the bridge.

“As a post, it’s great having all the community come out and show their support,” Miles said. “It shows that patriotism is alive and well in the community, and we need more of that. It was awesome to see the bridge full. I was told the other bridges throughout our county are full also, so that’s awesome.”

Fuller lived in Stephens County when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 21.

A member of Company D, 1^st Battalion, 38^th Infantry Regiment, and 2^nd Infantry Division, Fuller was supporting attacks by the Republic of Korea against units of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Forces (CPVF) in the Central Corridor in South Korea. After countless enemy attacks, the U.S. forces on the ground in the Central Corridor withdrew forces to Wonju, South Korea.

Cpl. Fuller was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United States Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. His name is permanently inscribed in the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate that he has been accounted for.

Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea returned to the United States 208 boxes of commingled human remains, which were later determined to contain the remains of at least 400 U.S. servicemen who died during the war. On May 20, 1990, North Korea turned over five boxes of remains believed to be unaccounted-for servicemen from the war.

Fuller was accounted for on April 13, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

On Friday, Aug. 10, a public visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. at Acree-Davis Funeral Home at 90 Pond St., Toccoa.

On Saturday, Aug. 11, a private graveside service for Cpl. Fuller with full military honors will be held at 11 a.m. at Stephens Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Jerrell Beatty officiating. In accordance with the family’s wishes, the cemetery will be lined by local Cub Scout packs and military personnel.

The public and veterans may stand in honor along Big A Road that morning but are asked to respect the family’s privacy and stay outside the designated privacy area during the family-only graveside memorial service.

Members of the public join veterans and public safety personnel on the Ga. 385 bridge over Ga. 365 in Cornelia Thursday morning.

Members of the public help Cornelia Fire and Habersham County Emergency Services personnel with preparing the giant American flag to be draped from Cornelia Fire Department's ladder truck.

Members of the public gather on the Ga. 385 bridge over Ga. 365 in Cornelia awaiting the motorcade's arrival.

A historic American flag held by an individual waves near the Cornelia Fire Department ladder truck on the Ga. 385 bridge in Cornelia.

Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell, his deputies, representatives of Habersham County Emergency Services, the Georgia State Patrol, Stephens County Sheriff's Office and the Patriot Guard lead the motorcade through Habersham County.

Sgt. 1st Class Chad Johnson and Sgt. Casey Coffee of Georgia State Patrol Post 7 in Toccoa, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley and Toccoa Police Chief Jimmy Mize escort the motorcade.

The Georgia State Patrol and Patriot Guard escort Thursday's motorcade in Habersham County.

Members of the public gather along Ga. 365 to pay tribute to the hearse carrying Cpl. Terrell J. Fuller.

Patriot Guard Riders displaying flags escort the Acree-Davis Funeral Home hearse transporting Cpl. Terrell J. Fuller.

A giant flag is draped in front of the Phillips Company in downtown Toccoa in preparation for ceremony paying tribute to the arrival of Cpl. Terrell J. Fuller's remains after 67 years.

Members of Cornelia Fire Department and Habersham County Emergency Services join members of the public on the Ga. 385 bridge in Cornelia after raising a large American flag from Cornelia's ladder truck.

Commander Bill Miles of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7720 in Cornelia distributes American flags to those gathered on the Ga. 385 bridge.

Veterans and others stand at attention as the motorcade makes its way in to Acree-Davis Funeral Home in Toccoa.

Public safety personnel and community members line the Ga. 385 overpass over Ga. 365 as the motorcade approaches.

The hearse transporting Cpl. Terrell J. Fuller makes its way toward Acree-Davis Funeral Home in Toccoa.

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