PUEBLO COUNTY, COLO. -- A Pueblo County Sheriff's Captain who died when his plane crashed Friday will be honored in the highest possible way Wednesday when the United States Honor Flag arrives in Colorado.

The flag, which travels the country to honor service men and women who died on duty, will arrive at the Colorado Springs Airport later Wednesday.

Capt. Leide DeFusco died Friday when his plane crashed while he was flying over the San Isabel National Forest scouting out marijuana grow operations.

A retired police officer was also onboard and died.

Deputies will accept the flag and keep it under tight security until Friday at 2 p.m., when DeFusco's memorial service is scheduled to take place. A motorcade procession will follow.

“There is no better way to pay homage to Capt. DeFusco and his family than with this flag.  It is a symbol of honor, rich in history, inspiring a renewed spirit of American patriotism as it pays tribute to those who have answered the call of duty and gone before us, forever remembered.” Sheriff Kirk Taylor said in a statement.

The U.S. Honor Flag rose above the rubble of the fallen Twin Tours following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 and has since flown at the site of those attacks, at memorial services for over 1,000 fallen soldiers, firefighters and police officers, and has flown as a source of inspiration for active duty military personnel over battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. Honor Flag has toured more than 100 communities throughout the nation and overseas, and was even launched into space during the shuttle Atlantis’ final mission in July 2011.

Circumstances surrounding the crash are still under investigation.