Ballpark funeral held in Ohio for long-missing soldier

[Algorem]

Source: Ass. Press



CINCINNATI (AP) — Military workers and supporters from across the country joined in memorials Sunday for a slain Army reservist who had become a poignant picture of the war in Iraq after he was captured by insurgents.

Thousands walked past Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin's casket during a daylong visitation at a civic center in Clermont County, east of Cincinnati, where he grew up. Many of them headed to Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, for an afternoon memorial service.

The crowd occupied the lower portion of the 42,000-seat stadium, behind home plate, stretching from first base to third.

Maupin's flag-draped casket was on a platform in the area of the pitcher's mound. The only people on the field were members of the 338th Army band and about 100 family members, military representatives and dignitaries...



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gOCasTG7WeS_oQO8hgrV1WM2yvswD90ADR8G0

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Bush was there in spirit;laughing,joking,dancing and comically directing a military band.Oh man what a great loveable guy! I wish I could have a beer with him.

[sasquatch]

1. I remember when he disppeared, RIP Matt Maupin

:patriot:

[blue sky at night]

2. you aren't kidding?

bush was there? I thought he has never shown at a single funeral....

[Oldtimeralso]

3. If he thought it was a baseball game he would have been there.

and talked about the pitcher having a dead arm.

[Bozita]

4. We can't see the bodies returning to Dover, but buy a ticket to a weekend ballgame,...

... and they throw in a military funeral.

I just don't get it.

on edit: They just did this story on NBC's nightly news.