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MOUNDSVILLE - A quiet sense of honor and respect followed the body of fallen U.S. Army Spc. Julian Berisford as it was returned to Moundsville on Thursday.

A motorcade of about 100 vehicles made its way south from the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport, where the plane carrying Berisford home from Afghanistan landed about 9 a.m. He was received with full military honors.

Thousands of people lined the route to pay tribute as Berisford, 25, passed by. He was killed Nov. 4 while on active duty in Pakitika Province, Afghanistan.

Students at John Marshall High School, Berisford's alma mater, stood behind a row of flags as the procession passed. All stood silent, along with many other people across the highway. Berisford was a 2002 graduate of the school.

Sue Sadoski, who was one of Berisford's teachers his freshman year, described the youth who became a soldier and eventually made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

"He was a very polite young man and a good student," Sadoski said. "He will be sadly missed. It is an honor to have known him. ... I was very proud of the way our JM students conducted themselves during the procession."

School Nurse Cathy Jones applauded the community's support for Berisford and the family he has left behind, as well as other military families, citing that local businesses have made donations toward memorial gatherings. Jones said she has a son on active duty in the military who graduated with Berisford.

"He was good friends with my son. He spent time at his house. Julian was just a good kid," Jones recalled with a tear in her eye. "He was always smiling. That smile ... it was a genuine smile. It's what I think of when I think of Julian."

Marshall County sheriff's Chief Deputy Kevin Cecil was in the second vehicle of the procession.

"It's hard to say what I felt. It was so great to see the support. It was overwhelming," Cecil said. "The first big crowd we saw were the little kids at Corpus Christi in Warwood with their hands on their hearts. Older veterans were pulling over, stopping their cars and saluting. People had tears coming down their faces.

"There was a huge amount of pride that people showed that kind of support for a soldier. I can't tell you just how moving it was. It was incredible."

U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Nelson, speaking on behalf of the Berisford family, said, "They were very appreciative, very moved and surprised. They weren't expecting the amount of folks that were out there. The family would like to express their thanks to the folks that were out there to show their support."

The Wheeling Police Department was one of the many police and military units involved in the procession.

Cruisers from every municipal police department in Marshall County, as well as from the sheriff's department, participated in the escort.

Wheeling Police Chief Robert Matheny said he was proud to take part in recognizing Berisford's sacrifice.

"It's very somber," he said. "We're absolutely honored to do it."

Berisford had been due to return home to Marshall County on leave Saturday to celebrate his daughter Mya's 1st birthday with his wife, Gina. The couple married on New Year's Eve in 2007. Berisford joined the Army in February 2007 and became a specialist in the 509th Infantry. He was deployed to Afghanistan in March on his first tour of duty.

Lorri Grisell stood in a group of about 50 people across from the Wal-Mart entrance.

"I felt the heart and soul of Marshall County turned out to honor a fallen hero. We were all proud to stand out there," Grisell said.

In Moundsville, the motorcade passed under crossed ladders of the Moundsville and Glen Dale volunteer fire departments' ladder trucks while proceeding to the Grisell Funeral Home, where Berisford's family will receive friends this weekend.

Law enforcement, military and emergency vehicles from Ohio and Marshall counties joined a large contingent of the Patriot Guards motorcycle group, which frequently provides honor guards for military funerals throughout the country.

Members of Berisford's family and friends could be seen weeping as they drove through Wheeling as part of the motorcade.