A Fairfield County school district is honoring a member of the Ohio Air National Guard who died in Iraq earlier this month with a community gathering.
Amanda-Clearcreek Local School District will be holding the event at 6 p.m. March 19 at the flagpole outside the 3-12 school building.
The event will honor the memory of Capt. Seth Koval, one of six airmen who died on March 12 when a KC-135 tanker crashed in western Iraq. A member of the 166th Air Refueling Squadron with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Koval, 38, had logged more than 2,000 flight hours.
Two other Ohio servicemembers, Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, and Master Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, also died in the crash.
Koval’s wife, Heather, previously taught in the Amanda-Clearcreek district. A letter from Superintendent Timothy Edwards inviting the community to the event said Capt. Koval was an active supporter of the district and would frequently visit his wife’s classroom and speak at Veterans Day events.
“Over the past two days, I have heard stories of multiple students who recalled Seth’s involvement in their classrooms and his impact during their early learning years,” Edwards wrote. “Other students reflected on their excitement when they would see Captain Koval fly over the playground or ballfields.”
The March 19 event will provide an opportunity for reflection, community support and unity for the Koval family and friends.
Amanda-Clearcreek staff have also been encouraged to wear patriotic colors or Purple Star clothing to honor Koval’s service and other military-connected families in the district.
Koval lived in Stoutsville in Fairfield County. Formal funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
An online fundraiser to support Koval’s wife and son has raised more than $200,000.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio airman killed in Iraq to be honored at local school district event
Reporting by Bethany Bruner, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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