Baraboo, WI
August 8, 2009

It was a cloudy day when I left my home for the 2 hour drive to Baraboo, Wisconsin to attend the funeral of Matthew Zygmunt. The weather only turned worse as rain showers alternated between light and very heavy for 90% of the drive.

Having grown up in the Baraboo (Sauk County) area it made my finding Saint Joseph's Catholic Church pretty easy. It was a beautiful church on a hillside overlooking the Baraboo River. I arrived in plenty of time. I found the parking lot and saw some soldiers in uniform walking out of the church toward a vehicle in the lot. I got out and went over to introduce myself and to find SSG Reaser who was in charge of the detail from Fort Campbell.

Along with SSG Reaser, were SSG Mason, SP Gilstrap, SP Harmon, SGT Santoro, SGT Haskett, SP Graf, and SP Tomlin. Additional former members of the 4th Brigade that drove into Baraboo from various parts of the country were Daniel Spueling, Ryan Hancock, and Clarence Parker.

I met SSG Reaser and we walked into the church. I could tell by the body language and emotions in the soldier's voices that they too were suffering a loss deeper than normal.

The family was still paying their respects so we waited in the foyer. I mentioned to SSG Reaser that I had brought with me some "Currahee" Crest Pins for the family. One member volunteered to take them to the family and as I watch he proudly pinned each family member. They wore the pins through the service.

As I entered the worship hall Matthew's mom was standing next to the casket. I waited in line and when it was my turn I introduced myself. She thanked all the veterans of the 506th Association and the 101st Airborne Division Association for their thoughts and prayers. Joe Alexander the President of the 101st Association had contacted me and asked me to represent them also.

Matthew was laid out in the casket in his finest Class A military uniform. An American flag was folded and laid up above his left shoulder. The Currahee Battle Flag that the soldiers had presented to the family was spread out and placed in front of the casket. He looked so very young and handsome.

The service was fairly short. Several former members of his unit read from scripture and the songs sung were very moving. It was hard not to shed a tear.

At the conclusion of the service the soldiers formed in front of the casket with SSG Reaser proudly and carefully carrying the folded American flag. The soldiers and casket, along with the funeral directors, followed by family members, and the rest of those in attendance slowly left the sanctuary to the foyer. Once outside the church I noticed immediately the bright blue sunny sky. The soldiers had moved the casket down the walkway into the awaiting detail of the veterans from Wisconsin Dells American Legion post 187.

Military rights were conducted with the rifle salute, the folding of the American Flag and taps. The flag was presented to the family by a member of the American Legion. The soldiers then ushered the casket into the waiting hearse. Indications were that Matthew's remains would be cremated and at a later date taken back to Brooklyn, NY.

As we all started to walk to the reception area for some food and refreshments, it started to rain again.

The members of American Legion Post 187 of Wisconsin Dells in attendance were Gary Thompson commander, Steve Bork, Brad Davis, Maury Delmore, Albert Dick, Ed Fox, Ron Halcarz, Henry Lukasavage, Ed Lybek, LJ Marston, Al Olson, Joe Schilz, John Van Wie, Pat Walsh and Bob Showalter.