Memorial set for two fallen Idaho soliders,
third recovering
|
|
June 13, 2011 |
 |
|
Staff
Sergeant Jason Rzepa |
The Idaho National Guard will hold a memorial
service Saturday for two of its soliders who
gave their lives in the line of duty in Iraq
July 7. A third soldier seriously wounded in the
same attack, Staff Sergeant Jason Rzepa, though
having lost both legs, is reported in good
spirits.
The memorial service for Nathan R. Byers, who
was posthumously promoted to sergeant on the day
he died, and for Specialist Nicholas W. Newby,
both of Coeur d'Alene, will be held at 1 p.m.
Saturday, July 16, at Lake City Community
Church, N6000 Ramsey Road, Coeur d'Alene.
The public is inved to attend.
The bodies of both soldiers are being
transferred from Iraq, and each soldier will be
returned to their families in dignified,
planeside ceremonies. Sergeant Beyers is
scheduled to arrive at the Spokane Airport by
charter plane at 11 a.m. Friday; Specialist
Newby is scheduled to arrive at the Coeur
d'Alene Airport at 1:10 p.m. Newby's family asks
that if community members would like to pay
their respects as his body is being transfered
to the funeral home, that the procession will
pass Lake City High School, Newby's alma mater,
which would be a good place for such a memorial.
A Rosary and Vigil service will be held for
Sergeant Beyers, 24, at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 17,
at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home, N2203 Division
Street, Spokane. Funeral Mass will be held at
St. Aloysius Catholic Church, E330 Boone Avenue,
Spokane, at 10 a.m. Monday, July 18. Inurnment
will take place at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 19,
at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery,
W21702 Espanola Road, Medical Lake.
Funeral services for Specialist Newby, 20, will
be held at 4 p.m. Monday, July 18, at Lake City
Community Church.
The families of both soldiers have invited the
public to attend services for Idaho's fallen
warriors.
All three soliders served with the
145th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Cavalry
Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Post Falls.
In addition to the loss of Sergeant Beyers and
Specialist Newby when their convoy was attacked
by insurgents using an improvised explosive
device, Staff Sergeant Jason Rzepa was severely
wounded, losing both legs below the knee. He was
initially treated at a military hospital in
Iraq, where he was presented the Purple Heart
July 8, and subsequently flown to Landstuhl
Regional Medical Center in Germany. He returned
to the United States today, flown to Fort Sam
Houston, Texas, for additional medical attention
and the long process of rehabilitation.
His family is traveling to Texas to assist him
through recovery.
"Despite having had both of his legs amputated
below the knees, Jason's spirits are extremely
high and we are very optimistic for a speedy
recovery," his family said in a release. "Jason
has asked us to extend a huge message of thanks
for the overwhelming amount of support, prayers
and positive energy of our friends, family and
the community have displayed during this trying
time. This will surely assist Jason through a
speedy recovery, and we are greatly apprciative. |
|
Questions or comments?
Click here
to email!
|
|
|
