Body of Medina paratrooper comes home on Monday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 June 2014 at 12:00 am

Veterans seek big turnout on Main Street at 6:30 p.m.

Schmigel

MEDINA – The body of Medina native Shaina B. Schmigel, a paratrooper who died in a training exercise at Fort Bragg, will return home on Monday.

Schmigel, 21, died on May 30 during a night-time training drill. She served in the Army for four years and was promoted to sergeant in January.

Her family and local veterans’ groups welcome the community to line Main Street in Medina around 6:30 p.m. on Monday when she will be escorted into town by the Patriot Guard and state police.

‘The family wants people to be out,” said Jim Freas, a past commander of the VFW in Medina. “We want to line Main Street.”

Schmigel is a 2010 Medina graduate. She moved from Batavia to Medina about six years ago. She was a cheerleader at Medina.

Schmigel’s body is scheduled to arrive at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport at 5 p.m. After being escorted through Medina, she will be taken to Batavia at The Michael S. Tomaszewski Funeral & Cremation Chapel.

There will be calling hours there on Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. Tomaszewski’s is located at 4120 West Main Street Rd. The site also will be used for Schmigel’s funeral at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. The funeral home seats about 250 people. After the funeral, Schmigel will be buried at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Corfu.