WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Welcome home, Colonel.
Air Force Col. Peter Stewart's plane was shot down in 1966 in the sky over North Vietnam. His family, not to mention his 16-year-old son, waited anxiously for his return.
They were told he was missing in action.
The years of waiting have come to an end; Stewart's remains were identified in April and family now are set to lay him to rest Monday.
A funeral mass is slated for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 1991 Overlook Drive, followed by military honors. Both are open to the public.
Jim Stewart, his son, earlier told 10News what it was like sharing the news of his father's identification with his mother.
"I asked her what kind of service she wanted for dad, and she said, 'I want the biggest, baddest military service Polk County has ever seen,'" Jim Stewart said.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10News app now.
Have a news tip? Email desk@wtsp.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.
