Firefighters stood on top of fire trucks in their formal and work attire, saluting the procession on the entire route from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to New Ulm.

Oncoming traffic stopped on U.S. Highway 212, State Highway 5, 19 and 15 along the way. Police departments stood and saluted. Veterans held U.S. and Minnesota State flags. Men, women and children were seen recording the procession with phones at highway intersections.

The procession included 17 Legion Riders on motorcycles, four New Ulm Police Dept. vehicles, two Brown County Sheriff’s Office vehicles, a Minnesota State Patrol vehicle and other vehicles.

Six of Bianchi’s nieces and nephews rode a bus to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and back to New Ulm.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch An American Airlines Medal of Honor jet with Capt. Willibald Bianchi's remains taxis to a stop at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

The grandson of a California man whose grandfather, Cpl. Fernando Ruiz Baltazar, served in the U.S. Army for six enlistments with the Philippine Scouts and died Jan. 25, 1942 in the Battle of Bataan, joined Bianchi’s family at airport terminal 2.

“The turnout of people (for the procession back to New Ulm) was ten times more than I expected,” said Sue Marti of New Ulm, one of Bianchi’s three nieces in the procession. “We were shocked at all the people. It was just great, really awesome for us as we waved at everyone.”

Before the American Airlines Medal of Honor passenger plane landed Friday, Twin Cities television and print media interviewed the six nieces and nephews.

Sue Marti said the family was “shocked” when they learned the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) positively identified Bianchi’s remains by DNA analysis and forensic science last August, 80 years after he was killed aboard a Japanese POW ship.

“It’s an honor for us that people respect our uncle so much and it’s an honor to have him as an uncle,” said Sue Marti to Twin Cities media at airport terminal 2.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Chaska firefighters salute the Bianchi welcome home procession on U.S. Highway 212 Friday.

Bianchi received the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration, awarded for acts of extraordinary bravery and heroism above and beyond the call of duty, risking their lives in situations of extreme danger.

He also received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in a combat zone, a Purple Heart with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters for being wounded in combat four times and the Prisoner Of War Medal, among other medals.

Bianchi survived the Bataan Death March and survived three POW camps.

The family received many letters from many soldiers who said they could not have survived Bataan and the POW camps without Bianchi’s help and care.

Steve Marti of Plymouth said a lot can be learned about the DPAA online. It is the world’s largest skeletal identification laboratory with two accredited labs at Hickham Air Force Base in Hawaii and one at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch A Bianchi welcome home tribute in Green Isle includes this couple and a U.S. flag.

Bianchi’s procession reached New Ulm after 9 p.m. Friday. After crossing into New Ulm at the 7th North Bridge, the procession stopped outside New Ulm’s Seifert-Bianchi American Legion Post 132, which was partially named for Capt. Bianchi. Bianchi descendants Drew and Jack Schlumpberger of New Ulm held a poster that read “welcome home cousin Bill” that included a letter Bianchi sent to his mother on Oct. 16, 1944.

In the letter her wrote,”We, the American prisoners here at Cabanatuan, Philippines leave for Japan in a day or so. If we ever get there remains in God’s hands. I am going to confession and Communion just in case. We sure had a rugged time so far. We all expect it to get worse before the end. You have to excuse this writing, but for two years, I couldn’t write at all. My right arm was wounded. My ulnar nerve was severed. It’s coming back slowly.”

Bianchi’s formal visitation is set for 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Saturday, May 2 at the New Ulm National Guard Readiness Center. Services with full military honors begin at noon in the New Ulm City Cemetery Soldiers Rest Section. Services include a 21-gun salute, New Ulm Battery cannon firing and a flyover.

The Brown County Historical Society opens a new exhibit, “Willibald Bianchi: “Beyond the Call of Duty,” 5-7 p.m. Friday May 1 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2.

The New Ulm Fire Department raised an American Flag over 7th N. Street in preparation for the return of Capt. Willibald Bianchi's remains. The hearse carrying Bianchi would pass directly under the flag. (Photo by Clay Schuldt)

Signs welcoming Capt. Willbald Bianchi home line the path his hearse would take through New Ulm upon his return. Photo by Clay Schuldt

Carrie Solma of Sleepy Eye waits near the American Legion in New Ulm for the return of Capt. Bianchi's remains. Solma said her father was a WWII vet and it meant a lot to her to see Bianchi's remains returned 80 years later. (Photo by Clay Schuldt)

A little after 9 p.m. Friday, April 24 Capt. Willibald Bianchi's hearse crosses the 7th N. Street bridge into New Ulm. The Medal of Honor recipient's remains were official back in his home town 80 years after his death. (Photo by Clay Schuldt)