Community gathers to honor one of its own

     Coal City is a community that in difficult times, neighbors—whether they know you or not—rally together. That was the case last week as the community gathered to honor one of its own.
    PFC Alex Armstrong, a 2018 graduate of Coal City High School, returned home to a hero’s welcome. Unfortunately it wasn’t the welcome his family and friends expected their soldier to have when he departed for military training in late July.
    Armstrong’s flag-draped casket arrived at Midway Airport on Friday afternoon where it was greeted by his immediate family and fellow soldiers.  A procession led by Patriot Guard Riders brought him home on a route that passed by his high school, down the main street he often traveled and by his family home as it made its way to the funeral home in neighboring Braidwood.
    Along the route, people stopped to pay tribute with a bowed head or a flag in their hand.
    The 18-year-old died Monday, Sept. 24 in Lawton, OK. Armstrong was nearing the end of his advanced individual training with the U.S. Army at Fort Sill when he took his own life due to bullying.
    Armstrong, the son of Heather and Larry Mazikoske, enlisted in March 2017 and completed basic combat training that summer through the split training option offered through the Army National Guard.
    He was a proud member of the military wearing his uniform to both his senior prom and graduation. He was scheduled to complete his current round of training last week.
    Armstrong was in an Oklahoma hospital for several days prior to his death with his mother and aunt by his side.
    Family, friends and neighbors back home in Illinois sent prayers and good wishes for his health. They tied ribbons on trees and utility poles, held moments of silence and wore blue, the color associated with bullying prevention.
    Unfortunately, Armstrong’s life would came to an end, but he lives on through organ donation.
    Alex’s mother reported via social media that he had chosen to be an organ and tissue donor and his gift provided new life to seven individuals through organ donation, and possibly another 500 people through tissue donation.
    Posts to the newspaper’s social media account noting Armstrong’s death reached nearly 18,000 people and many offered their thanks for his service and prayers and good wishes for his family.
    Military services for Armstrong were held Monday, Oct. 1 at R.W. Patterson Funeral Home in Braidwood. Cremation rites were accorded following the services and a private inurnment will be scheduled for a later date.
    Armstrong is survived by his parents and sister, Alyssa Armstrong, of Coal City and his brother, Jacob Mazikoske, who is stationed in San Diego, CA with the U.S. Navy.  His complete obituary appears in this week’s print edition.