State trooper Michael P. Stewart III was laid to rest today.
Stewart, 26, of Unity died last week after getting into a wreck while on patrol in Ligonier Township.
More than 1,000 members of law enforcement and family attended the service at Holy Family Church in Latrobe, according to state police officials.
Below is a timeline of the funeral.
Follow the Trib for live coverage all day.
12:25 p.m.
Church bells rang in Latrobe for 15 minutes as Stewart's casket was loaded into the hearse and escorted to Unity Cemetery by state police patrol and motorcycle units with flashing red and blue lights. Small groups of people gathered on Chestnut Street, some watching in solidarity and others recording the procession on their cellphones.
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11:02 a.m.
The Rev. Robert Byrnes asked those in attendance to look to their faith while mourning Stewart. Byrnes is the chaplain for the Greensburg station. He recalled getting an early morning phone call Friday about the fatal crash and helping troopers notify his family.
"You always know that when you get an early call like that, you know it's not going to be good," he said.
"He was good at what he did and he was truly dedicated to his oath of office," Byrnes said.
The pair last spoke on Wednesday in a typical joking fashion, Byrnes recalled.
"He saw me in the patrol room and he would tease me as well," Byrnes said. "He always had that little touch that made you feel he cares as much about you as you did about him."
On Friday, Byrnes and a few troopers visited November in the hospital. Byrnes asked those in attendance to remember him, too.
"He has a long road to recovery physically, mentally and emotionally," Byrnes said. "Last Friday, Trooper Stewart lost a partner."
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10:31 a.m.
Stewart's childhood friend Spencer White said he was happy when Stewart was assigned to Troop A in Greensburg because it meant they could spend more time together.
It was reassuring to see the community support for Stewart and his friends and family in the last few days.
"It just says a lot about our town," White said.
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Two troopers from Texas arrived early this morning to hand Stewart's family a flag that flew over the state Capitol.
"We're all state troopers," said Trooper Joshua Sneed, who is based in the Dallas area. "When one of us falls we all fall."
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9:22 a.m.
District Judge L. Anthony Bompiani and members of his staff are attending the service to honor a man the judge described as always well prepared when he came into the Hempfield courtroom.
"He was in our courtroom a decent amount, and he always was respectful," Bompiani said. "This is a big loss to the community."
Stewart's passenger, Trooper Travis November, is attending the service, Trooper Steve Limani said. November has a hairline pelvis fracture.
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8:54 a.m.
Police officers from across the country have gathered in Latrobe to honor one of their own.
Hundreds of officers — from as far away as Utah and Colorado — are awaiting the start of a funeral service for Trooper Michael P. Stewart III, who was killed in the line of duty Friday.
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Pennsylvania state troopers marched solemnly in formation along Chestnut Street Tuesday morning toward Holy Family Church as Amanda Dzambo and Rita Brown watched outside Dzambo's brother's podiatry office.
"I think it's amazing seeing all them all together walking up the street," Dzambo said. "I have chills to see so many people come out for another officer."
Both women said they planned to come out for the funeral procession.
"It's just amazing how many people come out to honor a state trooper," Brown said. "There's such a brotherhood, such a camaraderie."
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6:03 a.m.
Funeral services for Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael P. Stewart III will be begin at 10 a.m. today at Holy Family Church in Latrobe.
Stewart, 26, of Unity died Friday when his patrol vehicle collided with a garbage truck in Ligonier Township. The crash remains under investigation.
Stewart joined the state police in January 2014. He served in Chambersburg before transferring to the Greensburg troop in 2015.
He graduated from Greater Latrobe High School in 2008 and earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012.
The Tribune-Review will provide live coverage of the funeral.
Today's funeral procession route will make a left onto Chestnut Street from Holy Family Church. From there, the procession will travel onto Jefferson Street, then Irving Avenue, Ligonier Street, Route 982 southbound and onto Route 30 westbound.
Correction: July 18, 2017
Michael Stewart was laid to rest today. An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect first name for Stewart.
