The American Legion Riders and the Patriot Guard are asking area residents to join them Saturday in greeting the family of Cpl. James T. “Tommy” Mainhart in Butler.

James Miller, the coordinator for the Riders, said this may be the last opportunity for members of the community to pay respect for the soldier, who died in combat in the Korean War.

A service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, at the intersection of McKean and North streets.

Miller said the Riders and the Guard will be lining the streets around the funeral home with flags in hand from 10 a.m. until the service and are asking others to join them. He said if enough people attend, they can line parts of Main, North and McKean streets leading to the funeral home.

Miller said the show of support would go a long way in negating the frustration of the last two days in bringing the remains home, and it will offer an opportunity for those who wanted to greet the procession that was originally planned to travel through the county.

Mainhart’s remains finally arrived late Thursday evening after the flights meant to carry them from Atlanta to Pittsburgh were delayed for almost two days due to inclement weather.

“It’s been 67 years and two days to get him here,” Miller said.

Miller said this also will be a great boost for the family.

“It’s been pretty tiresome for the family,” he said. “It’d be such a lift for them to see people on the streets.”

“Then they’ll see everybody there with flags and see their support,” Miller said.