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Update: Flight time, funeral set for Purcellville soldier
It's tradition in the U.S. Army that when a soldier earns the duty of cavalry scout, he is given the right to wear the cavalry Stetson hat and spurs as part of his dress uniform.
Stephan Lee Mace, 21, of Purcellville, earned that right as part of the 3-61 Cavalry out of Fort Carson, Colo.
“That's what he did, he earned his spurs,” said Mace's grandfather, Ted Petro. “But we'll never see him wear them or his Stetson.”
Mace was one of eight soldiers killed in an Oct. 3 battle in Afghanistan as part of the United States' Operation Enduring Freedom.
Mace's body arrived in Dover, Del., Oct. 6, and his mother, Vanessa Adelson, plans to fly on a small plane with her son to Leesburg Executive Airport on Sunday, Oct. 11, at 8:28 a.m. A police escort will then accompany Mace's body to Hall Funeral Home in Purcellville. Mace's funeral will be held Oct. 12 at 1 p.m. at Purcellville Baptist Church, which is at 601 Yaxley Drive in Purcellville.
Cavalry scouts are known as some of the toughest, most dependable soldiers in the Army, so it was no surprise to his family that that was what Mace wanted to be.
He showed his ruggedness on various sports fields, on motocross tracks and in his love for the outdoors.
“Even though he was a thin kid, he was one of the toughest ones,” Petro said, recalling a time Mace broke his leg playing football and rehabbed his way back to the field.
Mace was born April 11, 1988, in Falls Church to Adelson and Larry Mace. He moved to Purcellville with his family as a child.
That was when Purcellville was still a small community, Adelson said, and Mace loved being a part of that.
After attending Loudoun Valley High School from 2003 to 2005, Mace earned his GED and joined the military.
“He had a love for his country, and for as long as I can remember, since he was little, he wanted to be in the military,” Adelson said.
Mace began his current tour in Afghanistan in May, but came home in August for 15 days of leave.
Adelson said he was anxious to get back and serve with his comrades.
“Those were his brothers,” she said.
She described the battle that took Mace's life, saying the soldiers were ambushed by about 200 Taliban.
Mace and his fellow soldiers fought very hard, she said, adding that some who were injured would not go to the hospital because they wanted to stay with their comrades.
“Those boys fought to the bitter end,” Adelson said.
Aside from his love of country, community and family, Mace had a passion for wildlife.
From age 16 to 18, he spent summers in South Africa on safari with a friend.
“Being only 21 years old, he probably did more than many of us will our entire lifetime,” Adelson said.
Petro described Mace as handsome, smart, funny and kind.
“He was a good kid, and everyone enjoyed being part of his life and having him in their lives,” Petro said.
Mace's body was the fourth to come off the plane in Delaware, Petro said, describing how hard it is to absorb everything that has happened.
“It just seemed like it was a nightmare,” he said.
Mace's survivors also include his stepfather, Richard Adelson; his stepmother, Deb Mace; three brothers, Matthew, Bradley and Christopher Mace; his grandmother, Kay Petro; and several aunts and uncles.
Memorial donations may be sent to Project Healing Waters at www.projecthealingwaters.org.
Mace will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery Oct. 19 at 11 a.m.
The family is asking community members to show their support by being at the Leesburg Executive Airport when Mace's body arrives there on its way to Purcellville the morning of Oct. 11.
For more photos of Mace, click here.
Contact the reporter at jwagoner@timespapers.com
Rest in Peace Trooper Mace. Thank you for defending our community and my family. I'd like to thank the Adelson and Mace families for raising a Patriot who volunteered to defend the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America in a time of war. God Bless and Comfort your families. I will do my best to meet you at the airport with my family to honor your sacrifice.
Posted by Tom_Potter
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God Bless you Soldier Mace. We have the highest amount of respect for you and your family. What an honor it is to have had you serve our country. God Bless you, your family, and America.
Mark and Vanessa Featherstone
Posted by vf
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Stephan died defending the country he loved. We are very proud to have known him.
The Stakes Family
Posted by sstakes
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As a mother of a Army guard soldier, my heart goes out to the family, especially the mother. As parents we worry everyday. My prayers go out to you and your family. We are very proud of what our soldiers are doing for our country.
Prayers and hugs from one military mom to another..
Sandi Levdahl
Posted by slevdahl
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God bless Stephan and his family. Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice you gave for this country. I hope President Obama recognizes these young people need more troop support or better yet, pull out and let them come home.
Posted by dpunty
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Please let me know when he will be arriving at Leesburg. It will be an honor to be in the procession accompanying him to Purcellville. God Bless, let us never forget the sacrifice this young man has made for our country.
Posted by fishline
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