Body Of Local Soldier Killed At Fort Hood Returns Home
By Marcus Gilmer in News on Nov 16, 2009 7:40PM
The body of Private Francheska Velez returned home today, and a procession from Midway, past Kelvyn Park High School where she had attended school, was held. Velez was one of the thirteen people killed in the November 5 Fort Hood shooting rampage. Last week, a vigil was held for the 21-year-old in her home neighborhood of Humboldt Park. Adding to the tragedy was the fact Velez was a little over two months pregnant at the time of her death. She had served in Iraq but had been transferred to Fort Hood after she became pregnant and was awaiting a December return to Chicago. Visitation for Velez is scheduled for Wednesday at Montclair Lucania Funeral Home; the funeral is scheduled for Thursday followed by a burial at Mount Olive Cemetery.
Also killed in the shooting was Bolingbrook's Army Pfc. Michael Pearson, whose body returned home last week and was laid to rest over the weekend. Another area soldier, Najee Hull of Homewood, was injured in the shooting and is still recovering. Last week, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the alleged shooter, was charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder. Since Hasan is still an active soldier, the charges were in a military court. Each charge carries the possibility of a death penalty sentence if Hasan is found guilty.