Ashley Sietsema September 14, 1987 - November 12, 2007 Ashley Sietsema 20, of DeKalb, Ill.; assigned to the 708th Medical Company, 108th Medical Battalion, 108th Sustainment Brigade, Illinois National Guard, North Riverside, Ill.; died Nov. 12 in Kuwait City, Kuwait, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. Ashley Sietsema was the daughter of Olivia Segura of DeKalb. She married Max Sietsema on April 27, 2007. They were just starting their new life together when she was deployed to the middle east in September 2007. She had been studying at Northern Ilinois University in hopes of earning a nursing degree. Ashley Sietsema joined the Army in December 2004, completed her basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., and her advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She enjoyed her work as a medical specialist. She loved to help people. The ultimate sacrifice is the highest honor a Guardsman can give, and it is by far one of the most difficult and saddest times for the Illinois National Guard. Her loss if felt by us all, both overseas and here at home, Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. Her awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M device, National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. Troop 33 honors the spirit of Ashley Sietsema, a bright and beautiful person who dedicated herself to caring for others while serving her nation. She is a fallen hero. We pay tribute to her memory. DeKalb Daily Chronicle photos by Eric Sumburg     Then her eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget to fight for our rights back at home while we're gone. To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, to know you remember we fought and we bled is payment enough, and with that we will trust that we mattered to you as you mattered to us."   ASHLEY SIETSEMA WAS HONORED BY MANY Flag line outside funeral home. Our Scouts were honored to help serve on the flag line for her funeral service, alongside veterans and the Patriot Guard Riders. Some photos from that cold overcast day, November 18, 2007. Photographs by Lake Forest Photography. Also honoring Ashley Sietsema that day were American Legion 57, 66, 99, 540, 549 & 1010 VFW 1486, 2287 & 2377, AmVets 90, NIU ROTC, the Marine League of Dekalb County, DeKalb American Legion Post 66 DeKalb County Marine Corps League 847 Illinois AmVets And the Patriot Guard Riders. God bless the Patriot Guard Riders for the work they do. They stand for those who stood for us. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS click here to visit their site       TROOP 33 HOME PAGE Click Here to Return to the Troop 33 Home Page E-Mail Scoutmaster cliffgolden@yahoo.com