Families of other fallen soldiers offer advice, condolences to Green's family
Fallen soldier's family shares insight on matter
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FUNERAL SERVICES FOR SGT. ANTHONY "GABE" GREENWhere: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 343 East 5th St, Yorktown
Funeral: 3 p.m. Saturday
Burial will immediately follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.
Saturday flag procession
More than 800 flags have been donated ...
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FUNERAL SERVICES FOR SGT. ANTHONY "GABE" GREENWhere: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 343 East 5th St, Yorktown
Funeral: 3 p.m. Saturday
Burial will immediately follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.
Saturday flag procession
More than 800 flags have been donated for the flag procession following Green's funeral.
People who hope to receive a flag should arrive at 3:30 p.m. on Main Street.
The procession is scheduled to move west on 5th Street to state Highway 119, then east on Main to St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery.
AREA SOLDIERS KILLED IN IRAQ:
September 2003: U.S. Spec. Richard Arriaga, 20, of Ganado.
April 2005: U.S. Army Spec. Gary Walters, 31, of Victoria.
November 2005: U.S. Marine Cpl. John M. Longoria, 21, of Nixon.
April 2006: U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Andres "AJ" Aguilar Jr., 21, of Victoria.
November 2006: U.S. Army Sgt. Mitchel Mutz, 23, of Falls City
April 2008: Army Specialist David McCormick of Bay City.
Mattie Mutz knows who that man in the pictures of her grandmother's living room is. It's her uncle, though the 2-year-old never got the chance to meet him.
Photos of Sgt. Mitchel Mutz, a 23-year-old Falls City native who was killed alongside another soldier by an improvised explosive device in November 2006, are still alive with color in his mother and father's home.
Mitchel's mother Dixie wants the Yorktown community and family of Sgt. Anthony "Gabe" Green, who was killed by a roadside bomb Oct. 16, to remember to keep strong and hold the soldier's memory alive.
"It just brings it all back, our own experience," said Dixie in a still voice. "Our hearts go out with them."
The pain eases, but there are those occasions where nothing can help and they just have to get through the day, Dixie said.
Looking back on Mitchel's life helps keep him alive not only for them but also for Mattie.
"We all talk about him and remember things of when we still had him," she said. "We laugh and cry."
Dixie advises the Green family take advantage of any help the armed services offer, as well as the assistance and strength of their small town community.
For Dixie, Falls City's 600-population has been more than enough to hold up her family.
"We have a very strong community here," she said. "We have relied on their strength and our family's."
Margaret Stanley, of Victoria, does not know if she could offer words of advice good enough for the Green family, she said.
Stanley's son, Cpl. Gary Walters, 31, was killed in April 2005, also by a improvised explosive device.
"There is not really advice I can give to the parents," she said. "Everyone grieves in their own way. You just have to get back to normal. As normal as you can get now."
Hearing about soldiers dying in action and seeing the American flag draped over a casket makes her relive her only son's funeral, she said.
"It's just like it's happening all over," she said. "It's like it was your son again."
Like Mutz, Stanley has photos and medals her son earned showcased in her home.
Stanley's daughter, Heather Brown, and a couple of her friends started Gary's care packages shortly after his death, Stanley said.
They have sent more than 1,000 packages since his death.
Both of those acts have helped the family cope, Stanley said.
Stanley did not offer any thoughts on the war, but Mutz said despite her son's death, the war needs to continue.
She has seen changes because of the war, she added.
"I am glad that the dictatorship is over, over there," she said. "I do think we need to keep our presence there."
Comments
I couldn't agree more..They are over there protecting us..Signed a contract for our country..At least support the family and children long after..God be with all the families who have lost loved ones...
October 24, 2009 at 9:57 a.m.These brave young peoples' families deserve the love and support of the community. I hope there is a mechanism in place to aid the young children of the fallen. Long after the flags wave and the motor cycles are put away there is still cereal and college educations to be addressed.
October 24, 2009 at 6:17 a.m.