PIQUA, Ohio -- This is a somber week in the city of Piqua, as the family of U.S Army Specialist, Corporal Samuel F. Pearson, 28, formerly of Piqua, prepare for his funeral.

Pearson was killed Wednesday in the line of duty while serving in Baghdad, Iraq.

His Celebration of Life will be 10 o'clock Friday morning in St. Paul's Evangelical and Reformed Church at 500 N. Downing St. in Piqua. Burial, with full military honors provided by the United States Army, will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Piqua.

The family will receive friends from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Jamieson and Yannucci Funeral Home in Piqua.

In addition, Pearson will be lying in repose at the funeral home beginning 6 p.m. Wednesday continuously through Thursday at 7 p.m. to facilitate the desire for the public to offer their respects.

It's the goal of a group of Piqua residents to get people to line the route from St. Paul's Church to Forest Hill Cemetery, by way of Downing St. to Greene St. and to Broadway Ave. out to the cemetery to pay tribute "to Piqua's fallen soldier," said Gail Staley of Piqua.

Steve.Baker@WHIOTV.com