Body of Jospeh Lemm Will Land At Stewart

The body of Jospeh Lemm, one of the two Stewart Air National Guards killed in Afghanistan last week, will land at Stewart Airport today.

Lemm was one of the six U.S. soldiers killed last Monday when a NATO patrol was attacked by a suicide bomber on a motorcycle near the Bagram air base. The attack also wounded two other U.S. service members. The Taliban has claimed responsibility.

Lemm’s body will be flown Monday from the Dover Air Force Base in Delware to Stewart. Tech Sergeant Lemm and Staff Sergeant Louis Bonacasa, who was also killed in the bombing, were members of 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard at Stewart International Airport.

A wake for Lemm is set Tuesday for 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m at Saint Anthony of Padua  in West Harrison, where Lemm lived. The 45-year old NYPD officer will be buried Wednesday at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne

Before the burial Lemm is set to receive a hero's funeral at St. Patrick's Cathedral Wednesday morning. The Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Dolan and assisted by Reverend Christopher Monturo, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua. According to the funeral director, Lemm will receive full police and military honors with hundreds of police officers and military personnel in attendance.  There will also be a helicopter flyover.

While in the military Lemm earned a number of awards, including the Purple Heart. He will receive the Bronze Star for his bravery posthumously.

Lemm is survived by his wife, teenage daughter, and four-year-old son.