Funerals are usually private affairs where family and friends can grieve over the loss of a loved one, but the public is being invited to pay its respects to a native son killed more than 75 years ago in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The body of Water Tender 2nd Class Edgar D. Gross, 40, of the Carriger community, will arrive at Huntsville International Airport Friday evening and be transported to Limestone Chapel Funeral Home in Athens. His funeral will be 2 p.m. Monday at Cherry Grove Baptist Church, 6530 Cherry Grove Road, Athens. A visitation will be held 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Until his remains were identified last year through DNA technology, he was listed as an unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Gross was one of 415 Navy crew and 14 Marines who died on the USS Oklahoma when the ship was attacked by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941.

Athens Police, Athens Fire & Rescue, the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies and the Patriot Guard Riders planned to escort Gross’ remains from the Huntsville International Airport.

Citizens wanting to pay tribute can line up in safe locations along the routes on Friday and/or Memorial Day. Athens Police Chief Floyd Johnson asks those who want to pay tribute along the route to not set up on private property without permission, and to stay a safe distance from the road.

After leaving the airport Friday evening, the motorcade will proceed west on Interstate 565, north on Interstate 65 to U.S. 72 and then to the U.S. 31 exit to the funeral home.

On Monday, the remains will leave Limestone Chapel at noon and take U.S. 31 to Pryor Street past the Limestone County Event Center where the annual Memorial Day service is being held. There, Gross’ family will join the procession, which will travel up Pryor to Jefferson Street and then over to Elm Street and proceed up Alabama 99 to the Cherry Grove Baptist Church.

Gross will be buried in the Evans Cemetery following the service.