Antioch soldier's funeral
A spectacular soccer player, a member of St. Peter Parish, a fifth-generation soldier and a man who had the ability to make his friends smile.
These were all the ways Spc. Andrew Wade was described during his funeral Monday in Antioch.
About 500 mourners attended services for the 22-year-old Antioch High School graduate who was killed March 7 in Kunduz Province, Afghanistan, in a “noncombat-related incident,” the U.S. Department of Defense has said.
Following the funeral Mass at St. Peter Catholic Church, a 200-vehicle procession took Wade's remains to Millburn Cemetery, in Old Mill Creek, for burial.
Wade, who joined the Army a year after graduating from high school, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, N.Y.
Soldiers from Fort Drum, along with high-ranking Army officials, attended Monday's Mass.
All heard how Wade lifted the spirits of others in high school and as a soldier.
“He enlisted into the Army to protect his country, which is acting in a completely selfless way,” the Rev. Michael McMahon said during the hourlong ceremony. “We are confident that God will take special care of Andrew Wade.”
Wade's awards and decorations include the NATO medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Brig. General Brian R. Layer, who spoke to mourners, called Wade a hero at a time when America needed him.
“We are a better Army because he walked among us,” Layer said. “After seeing your community honor him, I'm sure Andrew will not be forgotten.”
Layer ceremoniously relinquished Wade's service medals to his family during the emotional ceremony.
Wade was also a star soccer player at Antioch and spent six years as a member of the Chicago Kickers soccer club in Lake Villa.
He was planning to tour the world with some friends after he was discharged from the Army, McMahon said.
“Rest in peace, good and faithful soldier,” McMahon said. “Rest in peace.”
Wade is the third soldier with ties to the Antioch area to have been killed overseas. Ben Jansky was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2005, and Richard “Joe” Jordan in Iraq five years later.