Redlands soldier laid to rest after Humvee hit and run (Hannah Heavrin McKinney Gunterman)

Barbie Heavrin held her 22-month-old grandson closely as he glanced in the direction of his mother's open casket.

Heavrin has cared for Todd Avery Gunterman since his mother, Army Pfc. Hannah Leah McKinney, was sent to Fort Taji, Iraq.

Hannah had been eager to return from her station to her young son and husband, Christopher McKinney.

But it was not to be.

The Army private was killed Sept. 4 when she was hit by a Humvee. The former Redlands resident lay in the road for more than an hour before she was discovered by a tanker driver who rushed her to the base's medical center. But it was too late, and she died of her injuries.

Mourners gathered at Highland's Immanuel Baptist Church on Thursday for the funeral service honoring McKinney.

Heavrin, clad in a red blazer, clutched a red rose as she greeted mourners. Red was Hannah's favorite color.

"She is finally home," she said as she embraced a family friend.

Read the rest at the Redlands Daily
Note: Due to problems with blogger we were unable to post news of the fallen for the last 10 days. This post is part of the update from that period.