Memorial Held for Airman Slain in Afghanistan
Slain Airman Matt Seidler was remembered as a hero who “chased after his dream” during a memorial at his air force base in Colorado.
A crowd of 600 gathered on Friday for the tribute to Seidler along with his commanding officers at Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, and his parents, Marc and Lauren Seidler.
Seidler, who was from the Baltimore area, was killed along with two comrades by an explosive device in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan on January 5.
“When Matt arrived here at Peterson, he sought out every opportunity to train himself, to develop his EOD abilities and excel at every task,” said Master Sgt. Paul Horton, according to an Air Force press release. “He challenged himself and his fellow airmen and he put his all into everything he did.”
Seidler’s combat boots, rifle, helmet and dog tags were placed on display in the auditorium as friends and coworkers celebrated Seidler’s life and honored his sacrifice.
Seidler is the 40th Jewish American servicemember to die in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“He did this because he never woke up and went into work. When he got out of bed, he chased after his dream,” Horton added. “To stand alongside brothers, and to use his skills, strength and boundless energy to make a difference in this world.”
“We want to take this time to remember Matt for all he was,” said Col. Chris Crawford, commander of the 21st Space Wing commander. “He leaves a legacy of pride, integrity and courage, and we will never forget his sacrifice.”
Seidler was laid to rest last week in Arlington National Cemetery.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30
