OLATHE, Kan — Friends and family gathered on Wednesday for a private ceremony to remember the young Olathe man killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan.
After the private celebration of life service at Grace United Methodist Church, Cale Miller’s body was taken to Fort Leavenworth Cemetery for burial. About 1,000 people lined the streets to show their respect and admiration for Miller and to support his family.
Many of those in the crowd knew Miller when he was a student at Olathe Northwest.
“Just a hard working kid. My memories of him, I think would kind of transcend who he was as a soldier,” said Jay Novacek, Asst Principal and Athletic Director at Olathe Northwest. “Just a kid who went about his business everyday, worked very hard and obviously cared for other people. You know the position he was in in Afghanistan definitely reflects who he was as a kid all the way through.”
Pfc. Cale Miller, 23, died on May 24 after being wounded in Afghanistan during an enemy attack. He was a member of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Miller was a 2007 graduate of Olathe Northwest High School and attended the University of Kansas and Baker University.
According to the Department of Defense, Miller’s unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device. This was Miller’s first tour of duty and he had only been there for about two months.
Miller’s body was returned to the metro on Monday, as hundreds of friends, family and complete strangers lined the processional route, waving flags and shedding tears for the fallen soldier.
The “Community4Cale“ processional route included the Patriot Guard and an Olathe fire and police motorcade. The route began at New Century Airport in Gardner and passed along 151st St. in Olathe, where many people waited to show their respect. Community members were encouraged to bring flags and wear red, white and blue.
“It’s just awesome to see the community coming together and paying kind of a silent respect, said Capt. Bill Schneider with the Olathe Fire Department on Monday.