Ballpark funeral held in Ohio for missing soldier

On Sunday military workers and supporters from all across the country attended memorials for a soldier who was slain in Iraq and became the poignant picture of the war in Iraq after he was taken hostage by insurgents.

A civic center in Clermont County, east of Cincinnati, was packed with thousands of people who paid their respects to Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin and many people headed to an afternoon memorial service at the Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds. Behind home plate the crowd occupied the lower portion of the 42,000 seat stadium which stretches from first base to third. About 100 family members and members of the 338th Army band as well as military representatives and dignitaries were the only people on the field where they were close to Maupin's casket which was on a platform of the pitcher's mound. Retired Lt. Gen. James Campbell, representing the Army at the service described Matt Maupin as an all-American kid and said that everyone was proud of him and said that he served his country with honor and distinction. Maupin was captured four years ago in Iraq and his remains were found in Iraq last month and after he was captured he became the face of the wart for many Americans after a videotape of him was shown. In the video he was shown sitting on the floor and surrounded by five masked men holding automatic rifles. Members of Maupin's unit, the Illinois-based 724th Transportation Co., were also among those who were on the filed on Sunday. Gov. Ted Strickland said that the soldier became a son to all of Batavia and a son to all of Ohio. People from all over the state and world said their prayers out loud for the Maupins to hear. When Maupin disappeared he was just 20 years old and was listed as missing-captured until authorities were tipped off by local Iraqis and that tip led to the discovery of his remains about 12 miles from where the convoy was ambushed. Maupin was promoted three times since his captured that way his military career would be kept on par in case he survived the ordeal. Keith and Carolyn Maupin, Maupin's parents, has sent out items such as toiletries, magazines, snacks and games to soldiers since their son's capture. They will continue to send goods out to soldiers and they have already sent more than 10,000 items out since their son's capture.