Army Staff Sgt. Amy Seyboth Tirador was a 1998 graduate of South Colonie High school. She started her military career the following year. During her first tour of duty in Iraq, she served as a medic and saved the life of another soldier. Tonight, as her family mourns the loss of this local hero, they still wait for answers about her death. But, they are focusing on the patriotism their daughter and other soldiers show every day.
"We would ask the community, the country, that maybe we can continue to honor our military no matter what they are doing," said Colleen Murphy, Seyboth Tirador's mother.
It's a plea from the parents who just lost a hero. Their daughter, 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Amy Seyboth Tirador was killed Wednesday while serving her second tour in Iraq. In her 10th year of service Amy was working in intelligence. She was an interrogator, who spoke Arabic. The military is calling her death a non-combat related incident. That fact has spurred speculation that her parents want to clear up.
"Amy was shot and she did not kill herself," said Murphy.
Other than that they too know nothing more. Tonight, Amy's body is still not even home. Her family waits to make funeral arrangements. While they wait, they cling to the memory of their daughter, their oldest of three children.
"Amy loved being a soldier, she was a female soldier in a man's world and she climbed up," said Murphy.
She was a driven woman, with a kind heart, who quickly made the army her second family. It's where she met her husband Mickey. Tonight, her parents hope some good can come of her death.
"Bring war back to life, bring the fact that we have casulties back to life, our Amy's one of them," said Murphy.
"It'd be nice if we could ride around and see there's a flag, there's another flag, spirit, patriotism. This is for all the military," said Gerard Seyboth, Amy's father.
At this point no timeline for services has been set. The family expects those will be held some time this weekend.
