a funeral today

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

On Friday, the Fort Leavenworth Community will pay honors to a fallen hero from Afghanistan who will be laid to rest in the post cemetery. The fallen Solider is SGT Aaron Smith who was killed on 2 Oct 09 in Afghanistan.

Members of the Fort Leavenworth community who wish to pay respects to SGT Aaron M. Smith and his family, are invited to bring a US Flag and to line Grant, Pope and Biddle Avenues, starting at 1015 hrs, Friday, 16 Oct 09. The motor cortege will enter the installation at approximately 1030 hrs (+/- 10 minutes) through Grant Gate and travel north on Grant Avenue. It will then turn left (West) on Pope Avenue and proceed south on Biddle, arriving at the Fort Leavenworth cemetery (entrance across from the FCC).

The intent is to cover Grant Ave with volunteers from The Buffalo Soldier Monument to Pope and then from Pope to Biddle. In order to get maximum coverage, we are encouraging people to spread out along the east side of Grant and the North side of Pope near where they work or reside.

SGT Smith, a native of Manhattan, Kansas died Oct. 2 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked their unit using small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y. There will be no funeral, only Graveside Honors. BG Cardon will be the GO presiding over the Honors ceremony. The inurnment ceremony is at 1100. Please assist us in this

very important mission and please forward this to all in your organization who may want to participate. Garrison and Installation leadership, please allow your people the opportunity to pay their final respects to this native Kansas son who

gave the last full measure of service.

link

over 200 patriot guard riders escorted the hearse, along with about two dozen local law enforcement vehicles.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

NY – Sergeant Aaron Smith

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 6, 2009

GOVERNOR PATERSON DIRECTS FLAGS TO BE FLOWN AT HALF-STAFF

Governor David A. Paterson has directed that the flags at New York State government buildings be flown at half-staff on Thursday, October 8, 2009, in honor of a Fort Drum Soldier who was killed in action in Afghanistan on October 2, 2009.

Sergeant Aaron Smith of Manhattan, Kansas, was killed in Wardak Province when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.

Sergeant Smith was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment of 10th Mountain Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, based at Fort Drum.

“On behalf all citizens of New York I extend our condolences to the family, friends and fellow soldiers of Sergeant Smith,” Governor Paterson said. “We mourn his death but we celebrate his service to our country. While he was not a native New Yorker, we consider all soldiers stationed at Fort Drum to be fellow citizens of this great State.”

Governor Paterson has directed the flags on all State buildings to be lowered to half-staff in tribute to the State's service members who are killed in action or die in a combat theater.

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LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - A soldier killed in Afghanistan will be laid to rest Friday at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Sgt. Aaron Smith died on Oct. 2. He was killed during a dismounted joint operation. He died of injuries suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.

It was the second tour of duty in Afghanistan for the 25 year old from Manhattan, Kan.

Smith served with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) in Fort Drum, N.Y.

Smith's body returned last week at Kansas City International Airport and was met there by his family. His body was escorted off the plane by the Color Guard at Fort Leavenworth.

A large crowd is expected to gather Friday at 10:15 a.m. at Grant and Pope Avenues in Leavenworth to pay their respects to Sgt. Smith.

The procession will pass by there on its way to the national cemetery.

NBC Action News will be there for the procession and funeral. Watch NBC Action News Midday starting at 11 a.m. and NBC Action News at 5 and 6 for complete coverage.

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[NArocks 13]

[Chica Yeyé 41]

[Nessa 23]

RIP

[almaty 19]

peace to that young warrior

[sara..... 371]

[Niels Bohr 72]

[Nagishkaw 510]

Very sad, indeed.

[scandal 951]

A hero. Who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country.

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

134 views, 9 posts. that's very sad.

[john & jean 37]

ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL!!!

RIP FALLEN WARRIOR

[Marina-Del 10]

[alienlovechild 75]

134 views, 9 posts. that's very sad.

Personally, I rather see some action from Washington and citizens following events in the theaters of war enough to make for a public ready for whatever we need to do.

I agree with GEN McCrystal's decision to not fly the flag at half staff at his HQ for every soldier killed. Not because he doesn't care but it is a demoralizer and our troops need purpose, motivation and direction.

[Ban Hammer 12,835]

pictures that came out today in the local news

Edited October 22, 2009 by charles!

[almaty 19]

nice..thanks for sharing with us.....rip ...