Commuters should expect some heavy traffic Tuesday along the Capital Beltway for an early morning funeral procession of a Maryland military officer who died in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Murder Victim ID This undated photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II, 48, of Baltimore. Marchanti, a Maryland National Guardsmen, was killed in the attack on the Afghan Interior Ministry in Kabul Feb. 25, 2012. He will be buried Tuesday morning at Arlington National Cemetery. (AP Photo/U.S. Army)
AP Photo/U.S. Army
Daryl Klepsa, John D. Loftis, Robert J. Marchanti II Senior Airman Daryl Klepsa closes a vehicle holding transfer cases containing the remains of Air Force Lt. Col. John D. Loftis, pictured, and Army Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II, not pictured, Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Loftis, 44, of Paducah, Ky., died Feb. 25, 2012 from wounds received during an attack at the Afghan Interior Ministry in Kabul, Afghanistan and Marchanti, 48, of Baltimore also died Feb. 25, 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Robert J. Marchanti II An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Marchanti, 48, of Baltimore, died Feb. 25, 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Robert J. Marchanti II An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Marchanti, 48, of Baltimore, died Feb. 25, 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Robert J. Marchanti II An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Marchanti, 48, of Baltimore, died Feb. 25, 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Robert J. Marchanti II An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II Monday, Feb. 27, 2012 at Dover Air Force Base, Del. According to the Department of Defense, Marchanti, 48, of Baltimore, died Feb. 25, 2012 in Kabul, Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Afghanistan Murder Victim ID This undated photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II, 48, of Baltimore. Marchanti, a Maryland National Guardsmen, was killed in the attack on the Afghan Interior Ministry in Kabul on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/U.S. Army)
AP Photo/U.S. Army
Afghanistan Murder Victim ID This undated photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Maj. Robert J. Marchanti II, 48, of Baltimore. Marchanti, a Maryland National Guardsmen, was killed in the attack on the Afghan Interior Ministry in Kabul on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. (AP Photo/U.S. Army)
WASHINGTON – Commuters should expect some heavy traffic Tuesday along the Capital Beltway for an early morning funeral procession of a Maryland military officer who died in Afghanistan.
Beginning at 5 a.m., the funeral procession for Major Robert J. Marchanti II, will travel from the Evans Funeral Chapel in Parkville, Md., along the Capital Beltway to Arlington National Cemetery.
Marchanti, 48, of Baltimore, died of wounds he received during an attack Feb. 25 in Afghanistan. He was one of two military advisers killed in an attack at the Interior Ministry in Kabul.
The Taliban has claimed responsibility, calling the killings retaliation for the burning of Qurans at a U.S. base.
Marchanti was assigned to the 29th Infantry Division Security Partnering Team of the Maryland Army National Guard.
The Maryland State Police are asking drivers to use caution when traveling alongside the procession. They also ask drivers to consider taking an alternate route to work.
Travel north on Harford Road to the Baltimore Beltway (I-695).
Travel west on the Baltimore Beltway toward Towson to I-95 on the southwest side of the Beltway.
Travel south on I-95 to the Capital Beltway (I-495).
6 – 6:30 a.m. – The procession is expected to reach the Capitol Beltway, depending on traffic congestion.
Travel west on the Capitol Beltway to the American Legion Memorial Bridge
The Virginia State Police will assume control of the procession after crossing the American Legion Memorial Bridge in Virginia.
After crossing into Virginia, the procession will exit the Capital Beltway and travel south on the George Washington Memorial Parkway to Arlington National Cemetery.
The Maryland State Police are working with the State Highway Administration, the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the Baltimore County Police, and the Maryland State Highway Administration to coordinate the procession.
Additionally, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has ordered that the U.S. and state flags be flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in memory of Marchanti.
