Body of St. Pete soldier returns home

The body of a St. Petersburg soldier arrived at MacDill Air Force Base on Wednesday morning, with an escort taking her to her final resting place across the Bay.

People lined along Bayshore in Tampa to pay tribute to Spc. Brittany Gordon and her family as the parade of cars drove by.

Gordon was killed in Afghanistan earlier this month. She is the daughter of St. Pete Police assistant chief Cedric Gordon.

Gordon was killed during a suicide bombing attack in Kandahar at the hands of an Afghan soldier.

She is the first female soldier from the Tampa Bay area killed in action, in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Coast Guard veteran William Rogers was one of many who came out Wednesday. He said his heart went out to the family.

"It's unheard of to me," he said. "It's touching. I feel for the parents, for the community, and it's hard to explain the feelings that you feel. Your heart kind of just wants to bust."

Rogers brought white doves, locked in a cage, to release as Gordon's body drove by, and he hopes it helps brings a sense of peace to the family.

Brittany graduated from St. Petersburg High school in 2006. She was involved in the school's band and served as captain of SPHS Varsity Women's Basketball team.

The escort will take her body to St. Petersburg, where a memorial will be held. The funeral is Saturday.

Here's the entire route of Wednesday's escort.

North on Bayshore Boulevard

East on Platt St. Bridge

North on Florida Ave. (Left)

East on Jackson St. (Right)

North on N. Jefferson St. (Left)

East on Twiggs St. (Right)

North on Channelside Drive (Left)

East on SR 60

North on 22nd Street (Left)

West on I-4 (Left)

South on I-275

Arrive at Funeral Home in St Pete