The body of late Iowa Army National Guard Sgt. William Nathaniel “Nate” Howard, who was killed in a terrorist attack in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13, will return to Iowa on Wednesday — first to Des Moines and then to his hometown of Marshalltown.

According to Mitchell Family Funeral Home Owner Marty Mitchell, who is handling Howard’s funeral services, a military plane will arrive in Des Moines at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24 (today). From there, the procession will go from the Iowa Army Air Guard on McKinley Avenue in Des Moines and proceed east to Fleur Drive under leadership of the Des Moines Police Department, the Iowa State Patrol, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department and the Tama Police Department.

From there, the route will proceed north on Fleur to I-235, going east on 235 through downtown Des Moines to 35 North, continuing to Ames and exiting on Highway 30 east toward Marshalltown.

The procession will enter Marshalltown at Center Street/Highway 14, heading north to Iowa Avenue and returning to the funeral home.

“We do encourage show of support, love and respect to the family at this time by attending anywhere along the route. This last journey to Nate’s hometown is about him, his family, the community and the country he loved. Please keep safety a priority,” Mitchell wrote.

Howard’s funeral service will be held Saturday, Dec. 27 at the MHS Roundhouse with visitation beginning at 9 a.m. Following the services, full military honors will be held at the high school with the gun volley occurring outside and flag honors inside the roundhouse for all present to be a part of.

“It is with great honor I write this as a funeral director, but yet great sadness. Not one of us reading this felt this could happen to a young man from Marshalltown, Iowa, and yet it has. I am so proud of this community and the love shown. Countless acts of kindness from you as well as my colleagues from funeral homes reaching out all over. These touch my heart and make me realize the sacred duty I hold deep in my heart and give me purpose to get up every day. For that I say thank you to all,” Mitchell wrote. “May God bless all of you, this family and our country.”

Howard, 29, and fellow Guardsman Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, were killed in the attack along with civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat of Macomb, Mich. Three other Iowa National Guard soldiers were injured, and two of them have since returned to the U.S.