By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

A funeral procession including dozens of friends, family members, fellow soldiers, police officers and members of the Patriot Guard Riders escorted U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Matthew Blount to his final resting place at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo on March 13.

Blount, a Pelham native, also received several posthumous awards and recognitions from the state of Alabama and the U.S. Army Reserves during a memorial service held at the First Baptist Church of Pelham.

“I’m not saying goodbye to Matt today, I’m saying ‘I will see you again,’” First Baptist Pelham Pastor Mike Shaw, Blount’s childhood pastor, said during the memorial service. “And when I see you again, we won’t ever have to do this again.

“I will never, ever forget Matt Blount,” Shaw added. “First Baptist Pelham is a better church because of Matt Blount.”

Blount, who served in the Army for 13 years as a combat medic and on a mortar platoon in Iraq, passed away March 10 after a lengthy battle with cancer and leukemia.

During the memorial service, Blount received the Governor’s Certificate of Merit, the Governor’s Certificate of Commendation and the Distinguished Service Medal from the Alabama Army National Guard.

Blount’s family also received an Alabama flag flown over the state capitol in Blount’s honor.

Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Troy Tarazon, who served with Blount at a base in Germany and in Iraq, said Blount always stayed calm during firefights, and was quick to accept military responsibility.

“He was all about self-sacrifice. He was not about himself, ever,” Tarazon said, noting Blount received the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Medic Badge for his service in Iraq. “He was only 21 at the time (he was deployed to Iraq), and he had the responsibility of someone twice his age and rank.

“He was always the last guy to eat and go to sleep,” Tarazon added. “We got in many firefights, and he was always up front. He treated many casualties, and he definitely contributed to saving many lives.”

Tarazon called Blount the “definition of leadership,” and said Blount “knew how to rise to any challenge.”

“I was older than he, but he was my role model,” Tarazon said.