DOVER, Del. — The body of a former Port St. Lucie resident killed in Iraq on Sunday was flown here early Tuesday afternoon, where his parents and siblings waited for him.

Army Spc. Michael Anaya, 23, died in Bayji, northwest of Baghdad, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

His parents, Carmelo Sr. and Cheryl, and his older siblings, Carmelo Jr. and Trista Moffett, watched as the flag-draped box carrying his body was saluted and led across the tarmac by an honor guard.

“They did a very professional job. It was like they were handling their own family,” his sister said. “They were wonderful to him and to us.”

After the box was placed in a medical examiner’s van, Moffett and other family members returned to their vehicle and watched through the windows as Michael disappeared from sight.

“We sat until we couldn’t see him anymore,” she said. “We watched the honor guard walk away.

“It still feels so unreal,” she added.

The media was allowed to photograph the transfer of the soldier from the airplane to the van waiting to take him to the medical examiner’s office. (more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE — By the time 16-year-old Ryan Rust of Port St. Lucie turns 30, he wants to accomplish his dream — to win a NASCAR championship.

But in the meantime, he’ll be working alongside more than 50,000 others worldwide, meeting the needs of American military personnel serving overseas. (more…)

For the next two weeks, students at Fort Pierce Central High School will be collecting items for care packages to send to U.S. military troops overseas.

What they’re looking for: hygiene products, t-shirts, socks and non-perishable items.

Working together on the project are students participating in the Corps, HOSA, Student Government and the Criminal Justice program, according to a news release from the Fort Pierce police department.

People can drop off donations up to Dec. 5 at the following locations in Fort Pierce:

Fort Pierce Central High School, 1101 Edwards Road

Fort Pierce Police Department, 920 S. U.S. 1

International Long Shore main office, 503 North 7th Street