Hundreds Line Streets to Salute Hero's Return Home

Throughout Mableton, Austell, Lithia Springs and Douglasville, people paid their respects to 21-year-old Lance Corporal Scott Harper, who died while serving in Afghanistan.

Posted Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 3:31 pm ET|Updated Sat, Oct 22, 2011 at 2:46 pm ET

The reason Vietnam veteran Fred McArthur of Mableton stood along Mableton Parkway on Thursday, American flag in hand, was simple and powerful.

"Well, he gave his life. That's all, that's about all you can give," McArthur said, with glassy eyes and a quivering bottom lip.

McArthur was talking about 21-year-old who died on Sunday while serving in Afghanistan.

McArthur's 22-year-old grandson is currently serving in the Army.

Hundreds of others came out to fly their flags and salute the life of this local hero.

Several Patch readers have submitted their photos and videos of the procession.

Correction: The story originally had McArthur listed as Gary Jones, another man from the video.

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