SSG Matthew S. Sitton, 26, of Largo, Florida, was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 2, 2012.
SSG Sitton was assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.;
He is survived by his wife, Sarah M.; son, Brodey S.; parents, Cheryl and Steve of Largo; sister, Jessica (Christopher) McMahan of Largo; brothers, Jonathan and Cody of Largo; two nieces; one nephew; and numerous aunts, uncles and grand-mothers.
Funeral service to be held Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, 12685 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL at 1:00 p.m.
A Memorial Fund has been established for Brodey S. Sitton: USB Financial Services, 150 2nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701. www.HubbellFuneral Home.com
Published in TBO.com on August 10, 2012
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For the second time in little more than a year, a graduate of Indian Rocks Christian School gave the last full measure of devotion while serving his country in Afghanistan.
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Sitton passed awaty Thursday, according to a posting on the blog of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks.
Sitton was a long time member of the church and a graduate of Indian Rocks Christian School in Largo, according to the blog.
On July 16, 2011, Army Spc. Frank Gross, of Oldsmar, passed away in Afghanistan. Gross also attended Indian Rocks Christian School and was on the school's baseball team with Sitton. Both graduated in 2004 from the school.
According to the church, Sitton is survived by his wife, Sarah, and 9-month-old son, Brodey; parents Steve and Cheryl Sitton; sister Jessica, and brothers Jonny and Cody.
Don Mayes, superintendant at Indian Rocks Christian School, wrote about Sitton's death in his blog on the school's website.
"Many families were gathered around their televisions on Thursday watching our Olympic athletes with pride as the USA competed for gold. However, for the Sitton family, the scene was much different," Mayes wrote. "Matt's brother, Jonny, watched a white car pull up outside their home and watched two uniformed military personnel approach the door.
"Matt's parents and two brothers, who were home at the time, heard the news that no family wants to hear. The news that their son had given his all for his country. In stunned shock and grief, the Sittons got in the car to go and break the news to Jessica, Matt's older sister.
Previously, officers had broken the news to Matt's wife who was home with their newborn son. Now the whole family's lives were changed forever."
********
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
SSG Sitton was assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.;
He is survived by his wife, Sarah M.; son, Brodey S.; parents, Cheryl and Steve of Largo; sister, Jessica (Christopher) McMahan of Largo; brothers, Jonathan and Cody of Largo; two nieces; one nephew; and numerous aunts, uncles and grand-mothers.
Funeral service to be held Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, 12685 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL at 1:00 p.m.
A Memorial Fund has been established for Brodey S. Sitton: USB Financial Services, 150 2nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701. www.HubbellFuneral Home.com
Published in TBO.com on August 10, 2012
********
For the second time in little more than a year, a graduate of Indian Rocks Christian School gave the last full measure of devotion while serving his country in Afghanistan.
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Sitton passed awaty Thursday, according to a posting on the blog of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks.
Sitton was a long time member of the church and a graduate of Indian Rocks Christian School in Largo, according to the blog.
On July 16, 2011, Army Spc. Frank Gross, of Oldsmar, passed away in Afghanistan. Gross also attended Indian Rocks Christian School and was on the school's baseball team with Sitton. Both graduated in 2004 from the school.
According to the church, Sitton is survived by his wife, Sarah, and 9-month-old son, Brodey; parents Steve and Cheryl Sitton; sister Jessica, and brothers Jonny and Cody.
Don Mayes, superintendant at Indian Rocks Christian School, wrote about Sitton's death in his blog on the school's website.
"Many families were gathered around their televisions on Thursday watching our Olympic athletes with pride as the USA competed for gold. However, for the Sitton family, the scene was much different," Mayes wrote. "Matt's brother, Jonny, watched a white car pull up outside their home and watched two uniformed military personnel approach the door.
"Matt's parents and two brothers, who were home at the time, heard the news that no family wants to hear. The news that their son had given his all for his country. In stunned shock and grief, the Sittons got in the car to go and break the news to Jessica, Matt's older sister.
Previously, officers had broken the news to Matt's wife who was home with their newborn son. Now the whole family's lives were changed forever."
********
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
SSG Matthew S. Sitton, 26, of Largo, Florida, was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 2, 2012.
SSG Sitton was assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.;
He is survived by his wife, Sarah M.; son, Brodey S.; parents, Cheryl and Steve of Largo; sister, Jessica (Christopher) McMahan of Largo; brothers, Jonathan and Cody of Largo; two nieces; one nephew; and numerous aunts, uncles and grand-mothers.
Funeral service to be held Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, 12685 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL at 1:00 p.m.
A Memorial Fund has been established for Brodey S. Sitton: USB Financial Services, 150 2nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701. www.HubbellFuneral Home.com
Published in TBO.com on August 10, 2012
********
For the second time in little more than a year, a graduate of Indian Rocks Christian School gave the last full measure of devotion while serving his country in Afghanistan.
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Sitton passed awaty Thursday, according to a posting on the blog of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks.
Sitton was a long time member of the church and a graduate of Indian Rocks Christian School in Largo, according to the blog.
On July 16, 2011, Army Spc. Frank Gross, of Oldsmar, passed away in Afghanistan. Gross also attended Indian Rocks Christian School and was on the school's baseball team with Sitton. Both graduated in 2004 from the school.
According to the church, Sitton is survived by his wife, Sarah, and 9-month-old son, Brodey; parents Steve and Cheryl Sitton; sister Jessica, and brothers Jonny and Cody.
Don Mayes, superintendant at Indian Rocks Christian School, wrote about Sitton's death in his blog on the school's website.
"Many families were gathered around their televisions on Thursday watching our Olympic athletes with pride as the USA competed for gold. However, for the Sitton family, the scene was much different," Mayes wrote. "Matt's brother, Jonny, watched a white car pull up outside their home and watched two uniformed military personnel approach the door.
"Matt's parents and two brothers, who were home at the time, heard the news that no family wants to hear. The news that their son had given his all for his country. In stunned shock and grief, the Sittons got in the car to go and break the news to Jessica, Matt's older sister.
Previously, officers had broken the news to Matt's wife who was home with their newborn son. Now the whole family's lives were changed forever."
********
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
SSG Sitton was assigned to 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.;
He is survived by his wife, Sarah M.; son, Brodey S.; parents, Cheryl and Steve of Largo; sister, Jessica (Christopher) McMahan of Largo; brothers, Jonathan and Cody of Largo; two nieces; one nephew; and numerous aunts, uncles and grand-mothers.
Funeral service to be held Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the First Baptist Church Indian Rocks, 12685 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL at 1:00 p.m.
A Memorial Fund has been established for Brodey S. Sitton: USB Financial Services, 150 2nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701. www.HubbellFuneral Home.com
Published in TBO.com on August 10, 2012
********
For the second time in little more than a year, a graduate of Indian Rocks Christian School gave the last full measure of devotion while serving his country in Afghanistan.
Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Sitton passed awaty Thursday, according to a posting on the blog of the First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks.
Sitton was a long time member of the church and a graduate of Indian Rocks Christian School in Largo, according to the blog.
On July 16, 2011, Army Spc. Frank Gross, of Oldsmar, passed away in Afghanistan. Gross also attended Indian Rocks Christian School and was on the school's baseball team with Sitton. Both graduated in 2004 from the school.
According to the church, Sitton is survived by his wife, Sarah, and 9-month-old son, Brodey; parents Steve and Cheryl Sitton; sister Jessica, and brothers Jonny and Cody.
Don Mayes, superintendant at Indian Rocks Christian School, wrote about Sitton's death in his blog on the school's website.
"Many families were gathered around their televisions on Thursday watching our Olympic athletes with pride as the USA competed for gold. However, for the Sitton family, the scene was much different," Mayes wrote. "Matt's brother, Jonny, watched a white car pull up outside their home and watched two uniformed military personnel approach the door.
"Matt's parents and two brothers, who were home at the time, heard the news that no family wants to hear. The news that their son had given his all for his country. In stunned shock and grief, the Sittons got in the car to go and break the news to Jessica, Matt's older sister.
Previously, officers had broken the news to Matt's wife who was home with their newborn son. Now the whole family's lives were changed forever."
********
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star-shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
