By Sylvia Maria Gross
OLATHE, Ks. – Hundreds of people gathered in Olathe this morning to pay their final respects to 21-year old Army Specialist Spencer Duncan. Duncan was killed in Afghanistan two weeks ago when the Chinook he was traveling on was shot down.
People waved flags along 151st street all the way from Olathe South High School, where Duncan graduated from in 2008, to Blackbob Road - where the cortege of motorcycles, cars and a hearse carrying Spencer Duncan's remains turned off for the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home.
Liesen Wonderlich didn't know him, but she came out with her twin daughters on behalf of the family.
"I just wanted to support the family and just let them know that we appreciate the sacrifice that their son gave," Wonderlich said.
Services for Duncan will be held Thursday at noon at Indian Creek Community Church. Governor Sam Brownback has ordered flags flown at half-mast that day.
Flags will also be at half-staff in Missouri in honor of Navy SEAL Matthew Mason, of Holt, Missouri, who also died when the Chinook helicopter was shot down. His funeral is tomorrow morning.
Two other area residents were killed when the helicopter went down: Bryan Nichols, 31, of Kansas City, and Alexander Bennett, 23, of Overland Park. Nichols' funeral is Friday in Hays, KS, his hometown.
