(Steve Ruark | AP Photo) An Army carry team moves a transfer case containing the remains of Staff Sgt. Aaron R. Butler at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. According to the Department of Defense, Butler, 27, Monticello, Utah, died Aug. 16 in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler will be buried Saturday in his hometown of Monticello, his family announced Monday.
Butler, a soldier in Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group of the Utah National Guard, died in action Wednesday in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.
Butler’s body will arrive Thursday in Monticello with a procession. Thursday would have been Butler’s 28th birthday.
A viewing is scheduled from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Butler’s funeral will follow at noon at the Monticello LDS Stake Center at 165 S. Main St.in Monticello. The soldier will be buried following the ceremony in the Monticello City Cemetery.
Butler and 11 of his fellow Utah Army National Guard members were clearing a building in eastern Afghanistan when the structure exploded. The booby trap killed Butler and injured the rest of the team, Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday.
(Photo courtesy of Butler family) Aaron Butler
Following President Donald Trump’s Monday night address announcing new strategies for Afghanistan, Butler’s family members, Randy and Laura Butler, issued the following statement:
“Aaron believed that if military leaders thought changes in our strategy would increase the efficiency of U.S. operations in Afghanistan, he would be all for it, even if it required additional sacrifice.
“Our loss is painful and agonizing, but it will be even worse for the nation if we don’t stand up and take steps to stop the spread of terrorism. Aaron felt this way and he sealed this belief with his life. We support our son and the cause for which he died.
“Aaron was passionate about his patriotism. It ran deep and was an integral part of who he was. He was willing to defend the country against terrorism, at the point of greatest risk, in order to defend freedom, liberty and our blessings.
“Aaron died doing what he truly believed in. It was what he wanted to do.”
Staff Sgt. Aaron Butler
A candlelight vigil is also planned for Tuesday night from 8 to 9 p.m. at Heritage Park, 4425 W. Cedar Hills Drive in Cedar Hills. According to a post on the event page, Butler grew up in Monticello but had recently moved to Cedar Hills with his fiancee before his deployment.
Follow @mnoblenews