Northwest Indiana soldier killed in Afghanistan laid to rest

HAMMOND, Ind. — A northwestern Indiana soldier who was among four Indiana National Guardsmen killed in a bombing in Afghanistan has been laid to rest.

The Times of Munster reports that the main floor of First Baptist Church’s auditorium in Hammond was at near capacity during Wednesday’s funeral for 21-year-old Sgt. Brian Leonhardt of Merrillville.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels attended the service and was one of the speakers. He told mourners that “Indiana is proud” of Leonhardt, who was buried after the services at Memory Lane Memorial Park in Schererville.

Leonhardt was one of four Indiana National Guard soldiers from the Valparaiso-based 713th Engineering Company killed Jan. 6 in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan. His funeral was streamed over the Internet so members of the company in Afghanistan could watch.