Funeral Held for Ga. Airman Killed in Afghanistan Plane Crash

JACKSON, Ga. - WATCH: Funeral Procession for Airman 1st Class Kcey Ruiz 

Funeral services were held Friday for a McDonough woman who was killed when a United States Air Force plane crashed in Afghanistan.

Airman 1st Class Kcey Ruiz, along with five other American Airmen, died in the October 2 crash. 

The other airmen have been identified as Capt. Jonathan Golden, 33, of Camarillo, California; Capt. Jordan Pierson, 28, of Abilene, Texas; Staff Sgt. Ryan Hammond, 26, of Moundsville, West Virginia; Senior Airman Quinn Johnson-Harris, 21, of Milwaukee; Senior Airman Nathan Sartain, 29, of Pensacola, Florida.

Golden, Pierson, Hammond and Johnson-Harris were based at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene. Sartain and Ruiz were based at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.

Ruiz graduated from Dutchtown High School several years ago. She was just 21-years-old.

On Tuesday, her body made its way back home to Georgia. Ruiz received a "Hero's Welcome" in a procession from Tara Field to Jackson. 

"She paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country and I wanted to come out and respect that," explained Bernard Howard, who is an Air Force Veteran.  

In honor and remembrance of US Airman 1st Class Kcey Ruiz, there will be a candlelight vigil held Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Heritage Park's Veterans Wall of Honor at 100 Lake Dow Road in McDonough, Ga.

High School friends wishing to share reflections should contact Councilwoman Sandra Vincent at 404-797-7843.

Please bring candles and a lighter for the vigil.

Ruiz will be buried Friday afternoon at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.