Keene Road to Close for Horse-Drawn Fallen Soldier Procession

A horse-drawn military caisson carries fallen soldier Zack Shannon to his final resting place Wednesday.

Pinellas and Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies are escorting Army Spc. Shannon's remains along a 3.5-mile stretch of County Road 1 from Curlew Hills Memory Gardens to their final resting place at Dunedin Cemetery.

Supporters may pay their respects and stand along the roadside during the procession, but the funeral service remains private.

Motorists should expect delays along the route between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Officials are asking motorists who would normally be traveling County Road 1 between Curlew Road and the intersection at Virginia Avenue and Beltrees Street in Dunedin to find alternate routes.

Also, both northbound lanes of County Road 1 (at Virginia Avenue) will be shut down for motorcade parking during the soldier's private funeral service.

The procession begins at 11 a.m. from Curlew Hills Memory Gardens in Palm Harbor and will travel south on County Road 1 to the Dunedin Cemetery, 2400 Keene Road.

Hundreds of supporters gathered to give Shannon a hero's homecoming on Pinehurst Road in front of Dunedin High, his alma mater, Monday as his remains were escorted 30 miles from MacDill Air Force Base to the funeral home.

Shannon, 21, is one of five U.S. Army soldiers who died March 11 when their helicopter went down during a night vision operation in Afghanistan. 

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• Fallen Soldier Zack Shannon: Proper Escort Etiquette
• Former Cadet's Baby Named for Zack Shannon
• Neighbor on Zack Shannon: Baby Shower to Fallen Soldier
• Bright House Workers Hold Flag 2 Hours for Zack Shannon
• Family Shows Gratitude for Fallen Soldier It Never Knew

Complete Coverage of Army Spc. Zack Shannon:

• Remember Fallen Dunedin Soldier Spc. Zack Shannon

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