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September '07: Honoring a fallen soldier
Wednesday, January 02, 2008 | No comments posted.
He was a father, brother, son and soldier.
Fallen U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Marcos Elizalde was brought home to North Bend, fulfilling his last wish, to be buried in Oregon.
Elizalde was killed when an explosive device struck his vehicle in Al Aziziyah, Iraq, on Aug. 23. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, Wash. Elizalde was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal.
The funeral was held Sept. 1 at the North Bend High School, from which Elizalde graduated in 1995. Family, friends, hundreds of mourners and Gov. Ted Kulongoski paid their respects.
“My brother was my hero and when I look out and see all of you, I’m so proud that I shared my hero with you,” said Rachel Elizalde of Renton, Wash., during the funeral.
As the funeral concluded at Sunset Memorial Park, his mother and 6-year-old daughter were each presented with a U.S. flag. Breaking away from a crowd of well-wishers after the service, Rachel Elizalde said she thought the services were beautiful and she hoped no one will ever forget her brother.
“Keep my brother alive in memories and keep celebrating him.”
Fallen U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Marcos Elizalde was brought home to North Bend, fulfilling his last wish, to be buried in Oregon.
Elizalde was killed when an explosive device struck his vehicle in Al Aziziyah, Iraq, on Aug. 23. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Lewis, Wash. Elizalde was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal.
The funeral was held Sept. 1 at the North Bend High School, from which Elizalde graduated in 1995. Family, friends, hundreds of mourners and Gov. Ted Kulongoski paid their respects.
“My brother was my hero and when I look out and see all of you, I’m so proud that I shared my hero with you,” said Rachel Elizalde of Renton, Wash., during the funeral.
As the funeral concluded at Sunset Memorial Park, his mother and 6-year-old daughter were each presented with a U.S. flag. Breaking away from a crowd of well-wishers after the service, Rachel Elizalde said she thought the services were beautiful and she hoped no one will ever forget her brother.
“Keep my brother alive in memories and keep celebrating him.”
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