Matthew Apuan laid to rest

LAS CRUCES — Encircled by friends, embraced by family and memorialized by fellow Las Crucens, a soldier and son was laid to rest Friday.

Sgt. Matthew S. Apuan began his final journey bathed in the fragmented blue light that poured through stained glass windows during a funeral Mass at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Las Cruces. Monsignor John Anderson, the Rev. Mike Lindsey and the Rev. Ray Flores offered comfort and solace to the Apuan family as they committed their son's soul to rest.

"God said 'Be not afraid, for I will give you rest,'" Lindsey said in opening the Mass. "To all of you in the Apuan family, we share our faith."

Apuan, 27, a graduate of Mayfield High School, was killed Feb. 18 by enemy fire near Baghdad. The third-generation of the Apuan family to join the military, he was on his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.

He is the sixth Doña Ana County soldier to die in Iraq since 2003.

Family and friends from across the country joined his father, Charles Apuan, stepmother Martha Apuan, mother Sandra Apuan and sister Aimee Apuan in remembering the fallen soldier.

From the Sun News

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