Procession Sunday night for Colorado man who died from COVID-19 while volunteering in NYC

A Colorado father and grandfather made the ultimate sacrifice trying to help others hundreds of miles from his own home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thursday night the organization "Ambulnz" announced the passing of 66-year-old Paul Cary. Cary was part of Ambulnz’s State of New York COVID Response team who volunteered for assignment at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. 11 News sister station

with Ambulnz Cary's passing was tied to COVID-19.

New York City's mayor is praising the sacrifice of Cary, promising that his heroism before he died of the coronavirus will be forever honored in the city he came to rescue. Mayor Bill de Blasio says a memorial by the city to the 66-year-old grandfather will be a way to remember all the health care professionals, military members and others who raced to the city to help.

The following family statement was provided to

Paul spent 30 years as a firefighter/paramedic in Aurora. He is survived by two sons and four grandchildren.

"Paul made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and will forever be remembered as extremely dependable and completely devoted to his work," a representative for Ambulnz wrote in a release.

Cary's body was transported home from New York Sunday and will land at the Denver International Airport at 7 p.m.

CBS Denver reports Cary will then be escorted by firefighting and EMS vehicles to Olinger Hampden Funeral Home and Cemetery in Denver. The procession route is as followed (Courtesy CBS Denver):

Procession will travel southbound Pena Blvd.

Pena to I-70 West

I225 south to Colfax

Colfax to Ursula, right on Ursula to 16th Ave

Left on 16th Ave. to Quentin, left on Quentin

Left (east) on Colfax

Colfax to Potomac, right (south) on Potomac

Continue on Potomac to the Medical Center of Aurora

Potomac to Jewell, go right (west) on Jewell

Jewell to Havana, go left (south) on Havana

Havana turns into Hampden. Continue to 8600 E. Hampden Ave.

Ahead of the procession, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a statement on Cary's heroism and sacrifice: