She had two sons serve tours of duty in Iraq. Eric and Daniel, both Marines, returned home in October 2005.

“I sent two kids over and my two kids came home,” she said. “It was a joyous day when they came home. I can’t imagine the day this family is having.”

Johnston was flown from Dover to Rochester on Sunday morning. His body was carried in a silver hearse from Rochester to Albion. The processional included many Albion fire trucks. Johnston was named an honorary member of the Albion Fire Department last Monday. His parents, Brad and Jeanine, are active members of the department.

As the vehicles passed along Route 31, heading to Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, the street-lined crowd in Albion was quiet. Many held American flags, many bowed their heads and others put hands on their hearts.

“I’m glad the community came out,” said Mark Johnson, whose three sons served in Iraq. “We’re out here to support the family, and honor the young man who gave his life.”

Johnson is friends with Johnston’s father. They are both members of St. Mary’s Athletic Club. Johnson wore a hat with the U.S. Army logo. Johnson had Jason Johnston’s name embroidered on it, as well as “We salute our hometown hero.” He intends to give the hat to Mr. Johnston.

Tom and Anne Kelly, both 63, drove from Hamlin to honor Johnston. The couple took the American flag from their home and waved the flag at Albion’s main intersection. They also made a sign, “Thanks JJ.” The Kellys are part of “Operation Welcome Home.” They have gone to the Rochester airport eight times to give returning soldiers a big greeting when they come home.

“This is the opportunity to come out for a local kid,” Mr. Kelley said. “We just want to pay our respects and support the family.”

Johnston is the first soldier from Albion to die in combat since Rick Engle was killed in Vietnam in 1968. Carol Tibbits remembers when Engle died. She was 13 then and friends with Engle’s cousins.

Tibbits was determined to help welcome Johnston home.

“It’s not inconvenient for me to be out here,” she said. “We take too much for granted in this country. We assume, when we get up, that everything is going to be OK. But things can change in a second. His life changed in a second. His parents’ lives changed in a second. His sisters’ lives changed in a second.”

Tibbits stood along East Avenue with State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, who drove from Batavia. Hawley graduated from Batavia High School in 1965. Three of his classmates – Richard Laird, Brad Nadeau and Stan Tomaszewski – were killed in Vietnam. Hawley said the streets weren’t lined when those soldiers returned from an unpopular war.

The country has learned from Vietnam, not to direct its unhappiness with a war towards the men and women risking their lives in the military, Hawley said.

“This is entirely different,” Hawley said about Johnston’s reception. “Back then there were not American flags waving and the streets lined with people in a blizzard. This is America at its best.”

Johnston, a specialist in the Army, was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. Along with his parents, he is also survived by three sisters, Carrie (Travis) Riley, Holly Johnston and Heather Johnston, all of Albion; as well as several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

His family will receive friends from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home, 21 West Ave., Albion. There will be an 11 a.m. service Tuesday at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph's Church. Interment will be in Mount Albion Cemetery with full military honors.