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Kim Lamb/LVN photo
An Army color guard consisting of soldiers from the Nevada Army National Guard carry the coffin of Spc. Thomas Lyons Tuesday afternoon during a military service at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Lyons was killed Sept. 8 in Iraq.
FERNLEY — From a handle on the end of his flag-draped casket Tuesday hung the dogtag of newly promoted Spc. Thomas Lyons.
Around the neck of his 4-month-old son, Erik, dangled another set. As the infant reached out to touched the red, white and blue cloth presented to him by an Army general, his daddy's dog tags danced over it. All around a heartbroken family wept.
A military police officer with the 545th Military Police Co., at Fort Richardson, Alaska, Lyons was among three soldier killed Sept. 8 when an explosively formed projectile penetrated the vehicle in which he was riding in Northern Iraq.
“He was a joy and a blessing. As a young man he loved life, he loved people. He never really understood what a great person he was,” said his stepfather John Flint at the afternoon service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. “We love you. We know where you're at. We know that we will be with you soon.”
Through tears, friend Michael Coughlin talked of Lyons' volunteering for duty in Iraq.
“He didn't go for blood, and he didn't go for glory. He went for his family. He went to war to make this world a better place for his family and his son,” he said. “Thomas was a good man.”
Lyons spent his elementary school years in Carson City and attended Fernley High School where he was on the football and wrestling teams. He enlisted in the Army in 2007 and was stationed at Fort Richardson.
He was married six months ago and his wife, Delvin, gave birth to the couple's first child in May. Lyons eventually arrived in Iraq on July 12.
Gov. Jim Gibbons on Friday ordered that flags at the state Capitol Complex be flown at half-staff on Tuesday in honor of Lyons.
Following the service, the family, fortified by the presence of dozens of motorcycle club members, made the solemn journey to Lyons' final resting place at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. All along the four-mile route, people lined the street clutching American flags. The community had come out to bid Lyons goodbye.
“Erik will grow up knowing that his dad is a hero,” said Brig. Gen. Dan York of the 104th Training Division at Vancouver Barracks, Wash., before kneeling in front of the baby. “His memory will live forever and we'll protect it and I know you'll protect it too.”
Around the neck of his 4-month-old son, Erik, dangled another set. As the infant reached out to touched the red, white and blue cloth presented to him by an Army general, his daddy's dog tags danced over it. All around a heartbroken family wept.
A military police officer with the 545th Military Police Co., at Fort Richardson, Alaska, Lyons was among three soldier killed Sept. 8 when an explosively formed projectile penetrated the vehicle in which he was riding in Northern Iraq.
“He was a joy and a blessing. As a young man he loved life, he loved people. He never really understood what a great person he was,” said his stepfather John Flint at the afternoon service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. “We love you. We know where you're at. We know that we will be with you soon.”
Through tears, friend Michael Coughlin talked of Lyons' volunteering for duty in Iraq.
“He didn't go for blood, and he didn't go for glory. He went for his family. He went to war to make this world a better place for his family and his son,” he said. “Thomas was a good man.”
Lyons spent his elementary school years in Carson City and attended Fernley High School where he was on the football and wrestling teams. He enlisted in the Army in 2007 and was stationed at Fort Richardson.
He was married six months ago and his wife, Delvin, gave birth to the couple's first child in May. Lyons eventually arrived in Iraq on July 12.
Gov. Jim Gibbons on Friday ordered that flags at the state Capitol Complex be flown at half-staff on Tuesday in honor of Lyons.
Following the service, the family, fortified by the presence of dozens of motorcycle club members, made the solemn journey to Lyons' final resting place at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. All along the four-mile route, people lined the street clutching American flags. The community had come out to bid Lyons goodbye.
“Erik will grow up knowing that his dad is a hero,” said Brig. Gen. Dan York of the 104th Training Division at Vancouver Barracks, Wash., before kneeling in front of the baby. “His memory will live forever and we'll protect it and I know you'll protect it too.”
