Memorials held for Commons

Monday, March 11, 2002 | 10:53 a.m.

A Boulder City High School graduate who went on to become an Army Ranger was memorialized today in services across the country.

Matthew Allen Commons, 21, was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia after a memorial service in a Washington, D.C. suburb.

Commons was the youngest of seven U.S. servicemen killed last Monday during heavy fighting in an offensive against al-Qaida forces in the eastern Afghanistan mountains near the town of Gardez.

In addition to the East Coast services, family members held services in Indianapolis, where several of Commons' relatives live.

A local service is set for 6 p.m. tonight at Boulder City's Bicentennial Park adjacent to City Hall.

The American Legion plans a March 15 ceremony to honor Commons, a 1999 graduate of Boulder City High School, where officials on Friday raised to half-staff a flag that flew Sept. 11 over the Capitol in Washington.

Commons was an honors student, a member of the high school soccer team and secretary of his senior class. A tree will be planted near the Boulder City High School soccer field in his memory.

Commons, who was active in St. Andrew's Catholic Community, attended the University of Nevada, Reno, for a year and worked summers on a Lake Mead tour boat. He enlisted in the Army July 20, 2000.

Commons was a grenade-launcher gunner who had graduated from airborne school, his unit said.

Last week, Commons' commanders posthumously promoted him from private first class to corporal and decorated him. Commons was awarded the Bronze Star with with a "V" for valor, the Purple Heart and his Ranger ribbon.

Commons was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., and moved with his mother and younger brother to Boulder City in 1991.

His parents, Gregory J. Commons and Patricia Marek, now live in Alexandria, Va. They have approved a local memorial scholarship fund in their son's name. Donations should be sent to St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 1399 San Felipe Drive, Boulder City, 89005.