WATCH: Las Cruces motorcade procession escorts body of fallen soldier to funeral home

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- A fallen Las Cruces soldier received a motorcade procession Tuesday afternoon to a local funeral home along a route lined with residents paying their respects.

The body of 28-year-old U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Antonio Rey Rodriguez arrived at 1 p.m. at Las Cruces International Airport for a dignified transfer ceremony of the flag-covered coffin on the tarmac from plane to a hearse.

From the airport, Las Cruces police officers and Dona Ana County Sheriff's deputies led the motorcade procession along Interstate 10 eastbound to Picacho, east on Picacho to Solano, then south on Solano to Bowman and into the parking lot at the Getz Funeral Home at 1410 E. Bowman Avenue.

Hundreds of residents, school children and veterans lined the streets, some waiving American flags, to pay tribute to the native Las Crucean who had served his country.

Rodriguez died alongside another Army soldier early this month when they were attacked while on a combat operation in Afghanistan.

Funeral services in Las Cruces for Rodriguez will take place later this week. The rosary is at 7 p.m. Thursday at Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the funeral mass is Friday at noon at the church.