Twenty-year-old Tyler Ryan MacKenzie, a soldier killed in Iraq, was remembered today as a young man who was loyal to his family, friends, and country.
More than a thousand people filled the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on 49th Avenue and hundreds more stood outside, holding American Flags and homemade signs saluting Pfc. MacKenzie.
Friends and church members remembered MacKenzie as a tall, determined young man, who joined the U.S. Army to guard the freedom of fellow Americans and bring freedom to the people of Iraq.
“He has gone from one nation to another, from serving his country to serving the lord,” Keith Lorimer told mourners.
MacKenzie was assigned to the Army’s 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment at Fort Campbell, Ky. He was part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, and was assigned to Iraq on Sept. 28.
He was killed on Oct. 31 near Baghdad when a bomb exploded near his Humvee. Two other soldiers also died in the blast.
“His greatest concern was that he might inadvertently hurt an innocent person, especially a little child,” Mark Christianson said at the memorial service.
Christianson said MacKenzie was known to jump from the roof of his house as a child but it didn’t seem to stunt his growth.
Mourners chuckled at the image.
Tony Holloway was involved with MacKenzie in scouting
“The harder it was, the more of a challenge it was for him to succeed,” said Tony Holloway.
“Tyler was not afraid to give his mom a hug and kiss, it didn’t matter who was around,” Holloway said.
“His smile was permanently painted on his face,” churchmember Cory Dunn recalled of MacKenzie.
“I’ll always remember what he stood for and how fortunate we all are to have people of that mettle,” said Mark Roggy, MacKenzie’s football coach at Greeley West High School.
MacKenzie is survived by his parents, David and Julie MacKenzie and his sister, Nicole.
