Military pallbearers carried his flag-draped coffin into the stadium and placed it in front of the platform. Some of Kyle's relatives walked behind it. Several thousand people are in attendance, including former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and her husband.

Before the service, some in the crowd said they never knew the 38-year-old Kyle. Authorities say he was killed Feb. 2 at a North Texas shooting range by a former Marine whom Kyle was trying to help.

Kyle completed four tours of duty in Iraq and wrote the best-selling book "American Sniper."

His funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday. He will be buried at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin after a 200-mile funeral procession.