Alamogordo Daily News -- On June 13, Alamogordo laid to a final rest one of its own sons, Sgt. Christopher M. Kurth, United States Army. It was my great honor and a privilege to have been allowed by his family to attend Christopher's funeral as one of the Patriot Guard Riders. My heart goes out to his family at the loss of this fallen warrior.

Christopher was not only a son, brother, husband and uncle to his immediate family, he had an extended family at his funeral, as well. One only had to look around in front of the funeral home and at the cemetery to see Christopher's extended family standing there. Each stood proudly holding an American flag in their right hand in honor of this fallen hero who had given our country the ultimate sacrifice.

You see, these also were Christopher's brothers and sisters, his extended family. Almost 90 of them, veterans and patriots, had come by motorcycle from all over New Mexico and Texas. Some as far away as Albuquerque, Clovis, Las Cruces and El Paso many of whom, like myself, have been in military combat. This is where you form a bond, a kinship with one another like no other, because you've been there.

That's what Sgt. Christopher M. Kurth is now a part of forever.