Thousands Honor Fallen Hero Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin

This morning, I turned on Meet The Depressed and Tim Russert had Howard Dean, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, as a guest. Dean made the statement at least four times during that broadcast that "over 70% of Americans want the U.S. out of Iraq." Well, Mr. Dean, some of the "30 percent" were in attendance at the memorial service for Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin today in Ohio - actually thousands were there and more memorial services were held around the U.S.

This from CNN's article here:

Thousands walked past Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin's casket during a daylong
visitation at a civic center in Clermont County, east of Cincinnati, where he
grew up. Many of them headed to Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati
Reds, for an afternoon memorial service.
The crowd occupied the lower
portion of the 42,000-seat stadium, behind home plate, stretching from first
base to third

Maupin's remains were found in Iraq last month, nearly four years after he was captured when his fuel convoy was attacked near Baghdad on April 9, 2004. He became the face of the war for many Americans after the Arab television network Al-Jazeera aired a videotape in April 2004 showing him wearing camouflage and a floppy desert hat, sitting on a floor surrounded by five masked men holding automatic rifles.

Members of his unit, the Illinois-based 724th Transportation Co., were among those on the field Sunday.

Yes, this was a special day, for a special man. America rightfully honored a fallen hero today, Sgt. Matt Maupin and he is home now, where he belongs. G_d Bless his family and all members our our armed services.

Thousands honor Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin

CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) -- Military workers and supporters from across the country joined in memorials Sunday for a slain Army reservist who had become a poignant picture of the war in Iraq after he was captured by insurgents.

Maupin's flag-draped casket was on a platform in the area of the pitcher's mound. The only people on the field were members of the 338th Army band and about 100 family members, military representatives and dignitaries.
"Matt Maupin was the all-American kid," said retired Lt. Gen. James Campbell, representing the Army at the service. "We are so proud of you. You have served your country with honor and distinction."

"In his service, he became a son to all of Batavia and a son to all of Ohio," said Gov. Ted Strickland. "The Maupins heard the prayers of people from across the state and across the world."