Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B, president of Saint Anselm College, released the following statement on the tragic death of Marine Capt. Kyle Van De Giesen '02, who was killed while serving in Afghanistan Monday.We invite you to honor Kyle with your remembrances and comments, which you can post on the Saint Anselm College Blog.
Dear Members of the Saint Anselm College Community:
As many of you know from the news yesterday evening and this morning, we have lost a member of our Saint Anselm community under tragic circumstances. Marine Captain Kyle Van De Giesen ’02 was killed in a helicopter crash while serving in Afghanistan. As of last night, the exact circumstances of his death appeared to be unclear. He was one of 14 Americans who lost their lives in two separate helicopter accidents in that country Monday.
As I said in a statement to the many news outlets that were interested in Kyle yesterday, the passing of any member of the Saint Anselm College community causes us pain. But the loss of an alumnus so young and who sacrificed his life in the service of our country is profoundly sorrowful.
Many of us remember Kyle as an upstanding young man, who held a military bearing while he was still a student. Having played at North Attleboro High School in Massachusetts, he quarterbacked our football team in its 1999 inaugural season, when it returned as a varsity sport after a 58-year hiatus. His performance in that first game, against UMass Lowell, made him one of the all-time leaders in school history (Read more about Kyle as an athlete and student).
Despite that, however, Kyle played only a single varsity season. He left the team to concentrate on his studies as a criminal justice major and to pursue his dream of becoming a military pilot. He was serving as a Marine helicopter pilot when he was killed.
Kyle is one of many Saint Anselm alumni who have served and continue to serve with distinction in our country’s military. We recognize the contributions of all our military alumni, as we extend our deepest sympathies to family and loved ones of Kyle, especially his wife, Megan, who is expecting their first son, and their daughter, Avery.
This afternoon at 4:45 p.m. we will have a short ceremony at the Veteran’s Memorial on the Quad to honor Kyle’s memory. We encourage everyone from the Saint Anselm community, including friends and alumni, to attend. Since the funeral arrangements are as yet unknown, we will wait to plan a campus memorial service. I will keep you informed of information as appropriate and it will also be available on our website. In the meantime, please keep Kyle and his family in your prayers.
May Kyle receive the rewards promised to the faithful servants of the Lord.
Father Jonathan