Finally home

Marine Lance Corporal Sean

Willey’s remains escorted to Llion, N.Y.

  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Clay County Chief Deputy Todd Wingate shakes hands with an American Legion member after the memorial service.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Clay County Chief Deputy Todd Wingate shakes hands with an American Legion member after the memorial service.
  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Sheriff Mark Buchanan signs the memorial book after the July 27 service at the judicial center in Hayesville.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Sheriff Mark Buchanan signs the memorial book after the July 27 service at the judicial center in Hayesville.
  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress Marine Lance Corporal Sean Willey’s belongings found at the campsite were placed in a hand-crafted box which accompanied him home to LLion, N.Y.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress Marine Lance Corporal Sean Willey’s belongings found at the campsite were placed in a hand-crafted box which accompanied him home to LLion, N.Y.
  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress American Legion Post 532 and VFW Post 6812 conduct military honors at Lance Corporal Sean Willey’s memorial service held in the parking lot of the Clay County Sheriff ’s Offi ce on Thursday, July 27. A motorcade left Clay County on Friday en route to his home in New York.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress American Legion Post 532 and VFW Post 6812 conduct military honors at Lance Corporal Sean Willey’s memorial service held in the parking lot of the Clay County Sheriff ’s Offi ce on Thursday, July 27. A motorcade left Clay County on Friday en route to his home in New York.
  • Becky Long • Clay County Progress American Legion member Phil Cantley prepares to place the U.S. Flag near Marine Lance Corporal Sean Willey’s remains on the memorial table which also displayed a photo of Willey that had been posted in March 2022, a month before he is believed to have died.
    Becky Long • Clay County Progress American Legion member Phil Cantley prepares to place the U.S. Flag near Marine Lance Corporal Sean Willey’s remains on the memorial table which also displayed a photo of Willey that had been posted in March 2022, a month before he is believed to have died.

    By Becky Long

    Publisher

     

    The remains of Marine Lance Corporal Sean M. Willey were reunited with his family in New York Sunday after  coordinated efforts that began in Clay County and continued throughout the 900-plus mile escort.

    Efforts to return his body to his hometown in Llion began after Willey’s remains were found last year at a campsite off the Appalachian Trail in Clay County.

    Local investigators confirmed Willey’s identity in February 2023 using DNA samples from the campsite and from his 3-year-old son in New York.

    Willey had enlisted in the Marines and completed recruit training at MXRD Parris Island in South Carolina. After boot camp, he completed infantry school and went on to serve Second Marine Division at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C. where he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

    In his obituary, Willey was described as “A personable young man who effortlessly made friends wherever he went. He was deeply loved and cared for by his many friends from the local area and the close bonds he forged during his time in the Marines.”

    Returning Willey to his hometown became a goal for Clay County Chief Deputy Todd Wingate, who is a Marine himself.

    Working with investigator Ethan Henderson in solving the identity of the soldier’s remains, Wingate helped coordinate a major effort that crossed state and county borders.

    He wanted the Marine to receive the military honors Wingate felt he deserved.

    Willey was honored at a memorial service in Clay County on July 27 and on July 28 the trek home began amid a motorcade escort appropriate for a soldier.