Mourners Pack Glastonbury Church For Sergeant’s Funeral [The Hartford Courant, Conn.]

Aug. 30--GLASTONBURY -- Hundreds of mourners packed the light-filled sanctuary of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church on Monday for the funeral of U.S. Army Sgt. Steven J. DeLuzio, who was killed in Afghanistan Aug. 22.

As the casket was carried into the church, mourners sang the hymn, "On Eagle's Wings" -- "And He will raise you up on eagle's wings ... and hold you in the palm of His hand."

The Rev. George Couturier of St. Dunstan Church in Glastonbury, DeLuzio's home parish, said that the tenacious hockey player and selfless patriot would have two words for the gathering of family, friends and military comrades: "Live passionately."

Mourners included Gov. M. Jodi Rell, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, members of Congress and many service members in full dress uniform.

DeLuzio, 25, and Spec. Tristan H. Southworth, 21, of West Danville, Vt., both members of the Vermont National Guard, were killed when insurgents attacked their unit with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades. The men were assigned to the 172nd Infantry, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, from Jericho, Vt.

At the funeral Monday, military officials announced that DeLuzio had been awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and other medals. His father, Mark DeLuzio, has said that both Steven and his older brother, U.S. Army Sgt. Scott DeLuzio, signed up with the military because of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Scott DeLuzio and others spoke of Steven DeLuzio's courage, perseverance and always unselfish character. Ken Barse, DeLuzio's Glastonbury High School hockey coach, called him "a true champion and hero."

DeLuzio had planned to marry his high school sweetheart, Leeza Gutt, in September 2011. The Gutt family's pastor, the Rev. Richard Allen of South Congregational Church, spoke at the funeral on a theme that Couturier also touched on -- that people's love for each other mirrors God's love.

"Leeza encountered the sacred in the love that she shared with Steven," Allen said. "They found in each other the presence of God's love."

The service included communion, a soloist singing "Ave Maria," the prayer of commendation by Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell and the recessional hymn, "America the Beautiful."

After the funeral, DeLuzio was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1319 Hebron Ave. Rell ordered that state and U.S. flags, which had been lowered to half-staff in DeLuzio's honor, be returned to full staff at dusk Monday.

"Steven has passed from childhood to manhood," Couturier said at the funeral. "Now he sees more clearly than ever, face to face with his God."

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