A Final Goodbye for a Fallen Henry County Hero

POSTED 5:25pm 3/7/09 Tears flowed and flags flew at a solemn farewell for a soldier from Henry County who lost his life in the wars on terror. The Kewanee, Galva, and other communities mourned the loss Saturday of Sergeant Schuyler Patch -- the 25-year old Kewanee native and Galva resident killed when a roadside bomb detonated near Kandahar, Afghanistan February 24th. A funeral service was held at his alma mater -- Wethersfield High School in Kewanee -- hundreds packed the gym there, including State Representative Don Moffitt, and Governor Pat Quinn, who declined to talk with reporters afterwards. Kewanee Mayor Bruce Tossell was also in attendance, and tells WGIL the community is full of heavy hearts for the first soldier lost in action since Vietnam. "The whole town is in mourning. It's like losing your own son," Tossell said. "Showing up to support the Patch Family is kind of our way of helping grieve." Tossell tells WGIL even though he's as heartsick as anyone over the loss of Patch, the Kewanee community really has bonded the last almost two weeks. "Although it does tear you heart out, it does kind of unite the community," Tossell said. "Everybody is definitely hurt by this." Members of Patch's unit -- Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Second Battalion, 106th Calvary helped Kewanee Police control the area during the funeral service. And members of the Patriot Guard riders showed up in force as well -- all of whom wanted to help provide the proper sendoff for their hero. Patch was assigned to the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat team when the roadside bomb went off. Several others, including another Illinois soldier, also died. (A procession brings the casket with Sgt. Schuyler Patch's body out of Wethersfield High School Saturday, saluted by members of the Kewanee Veterans Council.) (A sign posted outside a Kewanee home honors Sgt. Patch. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.)

03 07 09 by Newsroom

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