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Remembering their sacrifice: Tyler Iubelt, others, remembered in touching ceremony on Monday

Posted May 28, 2017 11:00 pm
BY GEOFFREY RITTER GRITTER@LOCALSOUTHERNNEWS.COM

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<div id="x_divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;">

<div id="x_divtagdefaultwrapper" dir="ltr" style="font-size: 12pt; color: #000000; font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;">At first, Charlotte Loquasto knew there had to be a simple reason for the two uniformed officers sitting in her home on that&#160;otherwise normal Saturday morning in November. She had heard on the news that morning of an attack at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, but certainly her son wasn't among those killed. After all, there were tens of thousands of personnel stationed there.

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;">Yet the two officers&#160;wouldn't leave, and they wouldn't reveal their reason for being there, either, until Loquasto's daughter-in-law - wife of PFC Tyler Iubelt of Tamaroa - arrived. Loquasto's heart began to sink. She sent a frantic Facebook message to her son but received no reply. She pulled up all the news she could find on the attack.

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;">Finally, she learned the truth: Her 20-year-old son was among those killed that morning from injuries resulting from a detonated improvised explosive device. Loquasto panicked, and then shut down.

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;">"I was praying he was just injured," Loquasto recalled Monday, wiping tears from her eyes. "I just wanted to escape and get out of there as fast as I could."

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;">Six months later, on the first Memorial Day to follow her son's shocking death,&#160;Loquasto was on hand at V.F.W. Post 513 for the dedication of a new memorial plaque case that honors the sacrifices of not just her son, but also&#160;<span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">PFC Wyatt D. Eisenhauer of Pinckneyville, who was killed in Iraq in 2005;&#160;Specialist&#160;William D. Templeton of Pinckneyville, who died in 2011 as a result of injuries sustained in Iraq; and&#160;</span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">Lance Cpl.&#160;Drew M. Uhles of Du Quoin, who was killed in Iraq in 2004.</span>

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">The dedication ceremony was among dozens of Memorial Day remembrances taking place across the region Monday. <span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_2835_3083" tabindex="0">At the V.F.W., veterans and families also gathered for a holiday lunch, and elsewhere, personnel with&#160;American Legion Roy Mitchell Post 647 made a&#160;circuit of cemeteries in and around Du Quoin, offering short services and volleys of tribute&#160;gunfire.</span>&#160;</span>

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;"><span class="contextualExtensionHighlight ms-font-color-themePrimary ms-border-color-themePrimary ident_3086_3151" tabindex="0">Their long morning culminated with a noon ceremony at Keyes Park.</span> While the crowd there&#160;was surprisingly sparse for a warm, sunny morning, one Legion member said they had seen larger crowds at some of their other stops of the morning.</span>

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">"We probably had our biggest crowd at Elkville," said Alan Voice, who served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1959 to 1962. "We probably had a hundred people there."</span>

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">At the V.F.W., Post Commander Archie Hampleman said the addition of the new memorial plaque case supplements an older case that&#160;holds the names of local men killed in conflicts starting with World War I and ending with Vietnam. Hampleman said it was important to members to start a new space for service members killed in America's more recent foreign conflicts.</span>

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">"We didn't have enough space," Hampleman said, "and we certainly won't won't let those new veterans who have perished not have a plaque and be remembered. That's why today we rededicate it."<br /> </span>

<p style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">In addition to Iubelt's family, the parents and brother of Uhles were on hand Monday for the dedication ceremony. Uhles' father, Dan Uhles, said that even though almost 13 years have passed since his son's untimely death, he and his family are gratified that the sacrifice continues to be remembered.</span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols;">"</span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols;">We're just thankful," Uhles said. "After all these years, people still remember."</span></span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols;">As for&#160;<span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">Loquasto, the loss is far more&#160;fresh, and her crippling heartbreak has had little time to mend. Yet she has been consistently amazed, she admits, by the international show of support she has received, from billboards memorializing her son's sacrifice to condolences&#160;received from other men with whom he&#160;served.<br /> </span></span></span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,Apple Color Emoji,Segoe UI Emoji,NotoColorEmoji,Segoe UI Symbol,Android Emoji,EmojiSymbols;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">None of that dulls the pain, Loquasto said, but it has helped her to assign greater meaning to her son's death. On the first Memorial Day since he was suddenly taken from her, she is grateful for the outpouring of goodwill that has been sent her way by others both proud of and humbled by her son's devotion to his country.</span></span></span>

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols,EmojiFont,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji',NotoColorEmoji,'Segoe UI Symbol','Android Emoji',EmojiSymbols;">"The honor that has been bestowed on Tyler from day one has been astounding," Loquasto said.&#160;"Friends from around the world have sent so much support."</span>

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Alan Voice of Du Quoin American Legion Roy Mitchell Post 647 prepares to fire a salute Monday during a short service at Keyes Park in Du Quoin. Geoffrey Ritter photo
The families of Drew Uhles and Tyler Iubelt were on hand Monday at V.F.W. Post 513 to dedicate a new memorial plaque case. Pictured are (back, left to right) Shawn Hiller, Neil Uhles, Dan Uhles, Marla Uhles, Cathy Loquasto, Darla Iubelt, Patricia Steins, Charlotte Loquasto holding Jace Loquasto, and Post Commander Archie Hampleman. Pictured in front is Gladys Stanley. Geoffrey Ritter photo
V.F.W. Post 513 Commander Archie Hampleman speaks to those who assembled for lunch Monday at the V.F.W. Geoffrey Ritter photo
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