Friday, September 22, 2006

Anthony Seig honored, laid to rest


SUNMAN – The motorcade from the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport Sunday was long, moving at a stately rate of speed. First there were Army jeeps, then police cars with their flashers, a black hearse with family vehicles right behind it, then fire engines and other rescue vehicles and finally 10 motorcyclists called Patriot Guard Riders displaying large American flags at the end of the procession.

Army Pfc. Tony Seig was coming home.

“It was an honor” to help escort Seig’s casket, reported Patriot Guard Rider Tim Macyauski, Batesville. “He was the one who fought for us. If we can’t do something that simple ...” The East Central High School 2005 graduate died in Baghdad, Iraq, Sept. 9 after a rocket was fired into his barracks.

As the procession made its way along interstates 275 and 74, motorists pulled over and got out of their vehicles to salute or place their hands over their hearts. On at least two overpasses, huge flags were signs of pride and grief. More vehicles joined the motorcade in Lawrenceburg, including a horn-tooting semi painted with a furled flag and the words “United We Stand,” reportedly driven by one of the first dads in this area to lose a son to the war on terror.

Read the rest at the Batesville Herald Tribune>

High school plans honors for slain soldier

East Central High School’s homecoming football game will take a solemn turn Friday night, Sept. 15.

Before the game starts at 7 p.m. against Batesville High School, ECHS will honor the mother and family of Army Pfc. Anthony P. Seig.

Seig, a 2005 ECHS grad and former football player, was killed by indirect fire at his base in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Sept. 9, according to the Department of Defense. He was a member of a military police unit out of Fort Bragg, N.C.

Plans include having a U.S. Army color guard, and the student council distributing yellow ribbons with Seig’s initials, said ECHS Principal Donel Criswell.

“We’ve talked to Mrs. Seig, and she said she would come. We wanted to do something to honor Tony,” said Criswell.

Seig would be shocked by the outpouring of support and affection being shown to his family by the community, said his mother, Linda Seig.

“He did a bit of traveling around with the military, but he said he knew no other place would be home to him,” she said.

Seig spent most of his growing up years on Weisburg Road, Jackson Township.
Her son, who was nine days away from turning 20, “would be surprised and shocked, but we don’t realize how many lives we touch every day,” said Linda Seig.

Read the rest at the Dearborn County Register