Liberty HS Alum Killed in Afghanistan

Sara Marie Cullen (nee Knutson) was killed in a training mission in Afghanistan this month.

A 2003 graduate of Liberty High School was killed while on tour in Afghanistan with the US Army in a helicopter crash, The Carroll County Times reports. Sara Marie Cullen, a captain in the Army, and a graduate of Liberty High School and West Point, was killed March 11 during a training mission on board a Black Hawk helicopter, according to a West Point news release. There was no enemy activity in the area, the release stated. After graduating from Liberty High School, Cullen—whose maiden name was Knutson—went on to study law at West Point and graduated in 2007. In November, she married a former Black Hawk pilot, and they were both deployed in 2013 to Afghanistan. "Her mother remembers her as an adventurous, fun loving young woman with a …

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Planning Director Beyard Sends Spring Greetings from Afghanistan

Westminster's Planning Director Thomas Beyard is on leave, serving in the military. He expects to return home this summer.

Westminster's Department of Planning, Zoning and Development Director Thomas Beyard departed for a 400-day rotation with the Maryland Army National Guard late last summer. Beyard joined the Guard in 1997 after years with the Army Reserve. He has worked for the city of Westminster for close to 24 years. Until his return, his position is being filled by interim Director Steve Horn. Beyard sends occasional correspondence to Patch and we will post his letters and photos as we receive them. ------ April is here in Kuwait. That means a number of things for me and our unit. First, it means that we are one month closer to returning home this summer. Second, it means that temperatures are starting to increase. For example, high daily temperatures …

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Planning Director Beyard Sends Greetings from Afghanistan

Westminster's Planning Director Thomas Beyard is on leave, serving in the military. He expects to return home this summer.

Westminster's Department of Planning, Zoning and Development Director Thomas Beyard departed for a 400-day rotation with the Maryland Army National Guard late last summer. Beyard joined the Guard in 1997 after years with the Army Reserve. He has worked for the city of Westminster for close to 24 years. Until his return, his position is being filled by interim Director Steve Horn. Beyard sends occasional correspondence to Patch and we will post his letters and photos as we receive them. -------- Hope you are doing well. Since my letter last month, my unit has grown. Reorganization increased the size of our brigade from four to seven battalions.  We now have responsibility for over 2,500 Soldiers and almost 100 aircraft. Many of our Soldiers…

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A Tribute to Airman 1st Class Matthew Seidler

Seidler, a 2006 graduate of Westminster High School, was killed in action in Afghanistan on Jan. 5.

USAF Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, from Westminster, was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on Jan. 5 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand, according to the Air Force. Seidler was serving with the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron out of Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, according to Fallen Soldiers Afghanistan. The Denver Post reported that Seidler was the first airman in the 21st Space Wing to die in Iraq or Afghanistan. He was on his first overseas deployment. "This is a tragic day for Team Pete, the 21st Space Wing, the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron and especially for Matt's family," said Col. Chris Crawford, 21st Space Wing commander in a statement. "We will come together to help …

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Planning Director Beyard Sends New Year's Cheer from Afghanistan

Westminster's Planning Director Thomas Beyard is serving in the military, he expects to be home this summer.

Westminster's Department of Planning, Zoning and Development Director Thomas Beyard, 56, departed for a 400-day rotation with the Maryland Army National Guard in late summer. Beyard joined the Guard in 1997 after years with the Army Reserve. He has worked for the city of Westminster for close to 24 years. Until his return, his position is being filled by interim Director Steve Horn. Beyard sends occasional correspondence to Patch and we will post his letters and photos as we receive them. ---- Greetings! 2012 is here and the first part of my deployment is over. The holidays always come and go very quickly when you are deployed, so this year was no different for me than last time.  The thing that continues to overwhelm me, as well as other …

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Airman from Westminster Killed in Afghanistan

Twenty-four year old USAF Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, from Westminster was one of three Air Force servicemen killed in action on Jan. 5 when their vehicle struck an insurgent bomb in Shir Ghazi, Helmand.