Fallen Marine from Missouri returns home, St. Louis community pays respects

Chris Regnier
·2 min read
2

ST. PETERS – Marine Sergeant Colin Arslanbas from O’Fallon, Missouri, who tragically died during a training exercise, returned home for the last time Friday afternoon.

Crowds gathered to pay respects to Arslanbas, a 2019 graduate of Fort Zumwalt West High School who joined the Marines in 2020.

Sergeant Arslanbas, who was just 22 years old, lost his life in a parachute accident on April 18 during a late-night exercise near Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, as reported by Marine Corps Times. He had been promoted to sergeant on April 1.

His body arrived at St. Louis Lambert International Airport just before 1 p.m. Friday. A procession followed his return to the airport along I-70 to the funeral home. Arslanbas will be brought to the Baue Funeral Home in St. Charles

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Family members and military members gathered on the airport grounds as Arslanbas was transferred from an aircraft to a vehicle. Many military members were uniformed and holding American flags.

“Everything that’s happening out here is inspiring; you know, all these people getting together—that’s exactly how you pay respects to a hero,” Jacob McGhee, Army specialist, said.

Just west of the airport, on an overpass over I-70, community members gathered and brought American flags in memory of Arslanbas. Two firetruck also extended their ladders to raise a large American flag up high over the interstate.

Authorities anticipated a large turnout similar to that for fallen Marine Lance Corporal Jared Schmitz, who was killed during a suicide bombing in Afghanistan in August 2021.

Schmitz’s father, Mark, has been vocal in supporting the Arslanbas family and has encouraged the community to show their support. The Arslanbas family, deeply saddened by the loss, stated that Colin lived life to the fullest. They are planning a private funeral and burial for him.

“It’s a different experience to definitely be on this side but I can tell everyone that you being here definitely means something, and it definitely is going to be noticed by the family,” Schmitz said. “It makes this a little bit easier to embrace, for sure, just to know the community cares.”

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