the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm the death of Pfc. Scott Alan Rush was the result of an accident, not enemy fire
Scott Alan Rush - Colorado Springs Gazette - January 29, 1991 - Colorado Native, Victim of Bunker Accident, is Eulogized in Pueblo - In a simple ceremony Monday attended by more than 300 friends and family, the ashes of the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm were placed alongside those of veterans of three other wars. Although the death of Pfc. Scott Alan Rush was the result of an accident, not enemy fire, it was no less painful for members of the family who gathered in the Veterans Court of Honor in Pueblo's Imperial Memorial Gardens to say a last goodbye. "It is the wish of every parent to see their children's dreams come true," the family said in a written statement. "Because of our own mortality, we usually don't live long enough to see this occur. Scott always wanted to be a soldier. His dream came true. He was proud to serve his country. In our grief over his loss, we take comfort in this. We are proud of our son. Our waiting is over now - our son is home," the statement continued. "Our hearts go out for the families of servicemen and women still in the Persian Gulf area. We hope that this conflict is successfully ended and that our servicemen and women come home soon." Rush, who would have been 20 years old next month, was killed Jan. 19 when a sand bag bunker collapsed. He was an explosives expert with the 317th Engineer Battalion, B Company, which was stationed in Germany before being deployed to Saudi Arabia. Flanked by baskets of red and white carnations wrapped in blue ribbons, pictures of a young Scott Rush rested in the front of the chapel next to the square box containing his ashes and a folded American flag. "Scott's untimely passing has brought us face to face with the reality of death," said the Rev. Vern Ellis as he delivered the eulogy. "He gave the ultimate sacrifice in the giving of his own life for us." Fighting to maintain her composure, Rush's sister, Stephanny Anne Rush, read a poem she had been sent by a friend - "Don't grieve for me because I am free. God wanted me now, He set me free." When the crowd gathered outside the chapel at the Court of Honor, an honor guard from Fort Carson spread a flag over the urn as riflemen fired the traditional 21-gun salute and the bugler played the haunting refrain of taps. Jon Rush, Scott's father, silently walked to the marble wall and pulled away the tape to reveal his son's name inscribed on the veteran's roll of honor. Over the weekend, a memorial ceremony for Rush was held in Spring Lake Park, Minn. That state also claims him as its first casualty of the gulf war. He was born in Colorado and attended Pueblo schools until he was 12 years old, when his family moved to Minnesota. He joined the Army in 1989 shortly after graduating from Spring Lake Park High School. Among the mourners Monday were uniformed members of the Crowley County Sheriff's Office, where Rush's stepfather, Jim Fringer, is an undersheriff, and members of the U.S. Postal Service, who were friends of his father. "I didn't know the family. I just came because I know what they are going through," said Vesta Hernes, a Pueblo resident. "I lost my husband in Korea and a son in Vietnam. I hoped I would never live long enough to see another war, but sometimes I guess it's necessary." "I'm afraid he is going to be one of many," said an elderly member of VFW Post 4061 in Canon City. The man, who declined to give his name, nodded towards a group of television cameras recording the funeral service: "I wonder if they will be here when the 10,000th boy comes home this way," he said. Picture caption: Final farewell - Jon Rush and his wife, Elner, right, leave services Monday in Pueblo for Rush's son, Pfc. Scott Alan Rush, the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. More than 300 friends and family attended Monday's services. Rush was killed when a sand bag bunker collapsed.
Scott Alan Rush - Colorado Springs Gazette - January 29, 1991 - Colorado Native, Victim of Bunker Accident, is Eulogized in Pueblo - In a simple ceremony Monday attended by more than 300 friends and family, the ashes of the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm were placed alongside those of veterans of three other wars. Although the death of Pfc. Scott Alan Rush was the result of an accident, not enemy fire, it was no less painful for members of the family who gathered in the Veterans Court of Honor in Pueblo's Imperial Memorial Gardens to say a last goodbye. "It is the wish of every parent to see their children's dreams come true," the family said in a written statement. "Because of our own mortality, we usually don't live long enough to see this occur. Scott always wanted to be a soldier. His dream came true. He was proud to serve his country. In our grief over his loss, we take comfort in this. We are proud of our son. Our waiting is over now - our son is home," the statement continued. "Our hearts go out for the families of servicemen and women still in the Persian Gulf area. We hope that this conflict is successfully ended and that our servicemen and women come home soon." Rush, who would have been 20 years old next month, was killed Jan. 19 when a sand bag bunker collapsed. He was an explosives expert with the 317th Engineer Battalion, B Company, which was stationed in Germany before being deployed to Saudi Arabia. Flanked by baskets of red and white carnations wrapped in blue ribbons, pictures of a young Scott Rush rested in the front of the chapel next to the square box containing his ashes and a folded American flag. "Scott's untimely passing has brought us face to face with the reality of death," said the Rev. Vern Ellis as he delivered the eulogy. "He gave the ultimate sacrifice in the giving of his own life for us." Fighting to maintain her composure, Rush's sister, Stephanny Anne Rush, read a poem she had been sent by a friend - "Don't grieve for me because I am free. God wanted me now, He set me free." When the crowd gathered outside the chapel at the Court of Honor, an honor guard from Fort Carson spread a flag over the urn as riflemen fired the traditional 21-gun salute and the bugler played the haunting refrain of taps. Jon Rush, Scott's father, silently walked to the marble wall and pulled away the tape to reveal his son's name inscribed on the veteran's roll of honor. Over the weekend, a memorial ceremony for Rush was held in Spring Lake Park, Minn. That state also claims him as its first casualty of the gulf war. He was born in Colorado and attended Pueblo schools until he was 12 years old, when his family moved to Minnesota. He joined the Army in 1989 shortly after graduating from Spring Lake Park High School. Among the mourners Monday were uniformed members of the Crowley County Sheriff's Office, where Rush's stepfather, Jim Fringer, is an undersheriff, and members of the U.S. Postal Service, who were friends of his father. "I didn't know the family. I just came because I know what they are going through," said Vesta Hernes, a Pueblo resident. "I lost my husband in Korea and a son in Vietnam. I hoped I would never live long enough to see another war, but sometimes I guess it's necessary." "I'm afraid he is going to be one of many," said an elderly member of VFW Post 4061 in Canon City. The man, who declined to give his name, nodded towards a group of television cameras recording the funeral service: "I wonder if they will be here when the 10,000th boy comes home this way," he said. Picture caption: Final farewell - Jon Rush and his wife, Elner, right, leave services Monday in Pueblo for Rush's son, Pfc. Scott Alan Rush, the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. More than 300 friends and family attended Monday's services. Rush was killed when a sand bag bunker collapsed.
the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm the death of Pfc. Scott Alan Rush was the result of an accident, not enemy fire
Scott Alan Rush - Colorado Springs Gazette - January 29, 1991 - Colorado Native, Victim of Bunker Accident, is Eulogized in Pueblo - In a simple ceremony Monday attended by more than 300 friends and family, the ashes of the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm were placed alongside those of veterans of three other wars. Although the death of Pfc. Scott Alan Rush was the result of an accident, not enemy fire, it was no less painful for members of the family who gathered in the Veterans Court of Honor in Pueblo's Imperial Memorial Gardens to say a last goodbye. "It is the wish of every parent to see their children's dreams come true," the family said in a written statement. "Because of our own mortality, we usually don't live long enough to see this occur. Scott always wanted to be a soldier. His dream came true. He was proud to serve his country. In our grief over his loss, we take comfort in this. We are proud of our son. Our waiting is over now - our son is home," the statement continued. "Our hearts go out for the families of servicemen and women still in the Persian Gulf area. We hope that this conflict is successfully ended and that our servicemen and women come home soon." Rush, who would have been 20 years old next month, was killed Jan. 19 when a sand bag bunker collapsed. He was an explosives expert with the 317th Engineer Battalion, B Company, which was stationed in Germany before being deployed to Saudi Arabia. Flanked by baskets of red and white carnations wrapped in blue ribbons, pictures of a young Scott Rush rested in the front of the chapel next to the square box containing his ashes and a folded American flag. "Scott's untimely passing has brought us face to face with the reality of death," said the Rev. Vern Ellis as he delivered the eulogy. "He gave the ultimate sacrifice in the giving of his own life for us." Fighting to maintain her composure, Rush's sister, Stephanny Anne Rush, read a poem she had been sent by a friend - "Don't grieve for me because I am free. God wanted me now, He set me free." When the crowd gathered outside the chapel at the Court of Honor, an honor guard from Fort Carson spread a flag over the urn as riflemen fired the traditional 21-gun salute and the bugler played the haunting refrain of taps. Jon Rush, Scott's father, silently walked to the marble wall and pulled away the tape to reveal his son's name inscribed on the veteran's roll of honor. Over the weekend, a memorial ceremony for Rush was held in Spring Lake Park, Minn. That state also claims him as its first casualty of the gulf war. He was born in Colorado and attended Pueblo schools until he was 12 years old, when his family moved to Minnesota. He joined the Army in 1989 shortly after graduating from Spring Lake Park High School. Among the mourners Monday were uniformed members of the Crowley County Sheriff's Office, where Rush's stepfather, Jim Fringer, is an undersheriff, and members of the U.S. Postal Service, who were friends of his father. "I didn't know the family. I just came because I know what they are going through," said Vesta Hernes, a Pueblo resident. "I lost my husband in Korea and a son in Vietnam. I hoped I would never live long enough to see another war, but sometimes I guess it's necessary." "I'm afraid he is going to be one of many," said an elderly member of VFW Post 4061 in Canon City. The man, who declined to give his name, nodded towards a group of television cameras recording the funeral service: "I wonder if they will be here when the 10,000th boy comes home this way," he said. Picture caption: Final farewell - Jon Rush and his wife, Elner, right, leave services Monday in Pueblo for Rush's son, Pfc. Scott Alan Rush, the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. More than 300 friends and family attended Monday's services. Rush was killed when a sand bag bunker collapsed.
Scott Alan Rush - Colorado Springs Gazette - January 29, 1991 - Colorado Native, Victim of Bunker Accident, is Eulogized in Pueblo - In a simple ceremony Monday attended by more than 300 friends and family, the ashes of the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm were placed alongside those of veterans of three other wars. Although the death of Pfc. Scott Alan Rush was the result of an accident, not enemy fire, it was no less painful for members of the family who gathered in the Veterans Court of Honor in Pueblo's Imperial Memorial Gardens to say a last goodbye. "It is the wish of every parent to see their children's dreams come true," the family said in a written statement. "Because of our own mortality, we usually don't live long enough to see this occur. Scott always wanted to be a soldier. His dream came true. He was proud to serve his country. In our grief over his loss, we take comfort in this. We are proud of our son. Our waiting is over now - our son is home," the statement continued. "Our hearts go out for the families of servicemen and women still in the Persian Gulf area. We hope that this conflict is successfully ended and that our servicemen and women come home soon." Rush, who would have been 20 years old next month, was killed Jan. 19 when a sand bag bunker collapsed. He was an explosives expert with the 317th Engineer Battalion, B Company, which was stationed in Germany before being deployed to Saudi Arabia. Flanked by baskets of red and white carnations wrapped in blue ribbons, pictures of a young Scott Rush rested in the front of the chapel next to the square box containing his ashes and a folded American flag. "Scott's untimely passing has brought us face to face with the reality of death," said the Rev. Vern Ellis as he delivered the eulogy. "He gave the ultimate sacrifice in the giving of his own life for us." Fighting to maintain her composure, Rush's sister, Stephanny Anne Rush, read a poem she had been sent by a friend - "Don't grieve for me because I am free. God wanted me now, He set me free." When the crowd gathered outside the chapel at the Court of Honor, an honor guard from Fort Carson spread a flag over the urn as riflemen fired the traditional 21-gun salute and the bugler played the haunting refrain of taps. Jon Rush, Scott's father, silently walked to the marble wall and pulled away the tape to reveal his son's name inscribed on the veteran's roll of honor. Over the weekend, a memorial ceremony for Rush was held in Spring Lake Park, Minn. That state also claims him as its first casualty of the gulf war. He was born in Colorado and attended Pueblo schools until he was 12 years old, when his family moved to Minnesota. He joined the Army in 1989 shortly after graduating from Spring Lake Park High School. Among the mourners Monday were uniformed members of the Crowley County Sheriff's Office, where Rush's stepfather, Jim Fringer, is an undersheriff, and members of the U.S. Postal Service, who were friends of his father. "I didn't know the family. I just came because I know what they are going through," said Vesta Hernes, a Pueblo resident. "I lost my husband in Korea and a son in Vietnam. I hoped I would never live long enough to see another war, but sometimes I guess it's necessary." "I'm afraid he is going to be one of many," said an elderly member of VFW Post 4061 in Canon City. The man, who declined to give his name, nodded towards a group of television cameras recording the funeral service: "I wonder if they will be here when the 10,000th boy comes home this way," he said. Picture caption: Final farewell - Jon Rush and his wife, Elner, right, leave services Monday in Pueblo for Rush's son, Pfc. Scott Alan Rush, the first Colorado resident to die in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm. More than 300 friends and family attended Monday's services. Rush was killed when a sand bag bunker collapsed.
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