JENNINGS — A Southwest Louisiana soldier who died in Afghanistan last month was laid to rest Thursday as hundreds turned out to pay their respects.

An honor guard carried the flag-draped casket of Army Capt. Aaron Istre, 37, to his final resting place next to his grandmother in Calvary Cemetery shortly after family and friends gathered to shed tears and share stories of his life during a brief service at Matthews and Son Funeral Home.

Istre, a Vinton High School graduate, died March 24 while serving in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was a military logistics officer assigned with the 13th Sustainment Command’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company at Fort Hood, Texas.

“There is no greater honor than to give your life for your country,” Istre’s cousin, Robin Veitch, a member of the Louisiana Air National Guard, said during Istre’s funeral. “If you have to go, the best way to go is wearing your boots and uniform.”

Istre’s wife, Lt. Jennifer Istre, also spoke at the service, describing him as an “amazing leader and mentor to many.”

“But he was my husband, the father of my children and my best friend,” she said. “I’m thankful that we shared the last 13 years of his life. He was a great man.”

Before the service, Capt. William Conger, assistant military science professor for LSU Army ROTC, remembered Istre as a young cadet in the university’s Ole War Skule.

“He was a very fun, loving, caring guy,” Conger said. “He was the kind of guy you could talk to. He was academically sound, and we knew he’d go and be successful.

Istre had seen multiple deployments during his military career and made many friends, he said.

“I don’t ever remember him with a frown on his face,” Conger said. “You look at the pictures inside (funeral home) … . What you see in those pictures is the true way he was.”

Istre’s name will be added to the LSU War Memorial of Honor in front of the Memorial Tower on the Parade Ground during a Memorial Day service, Conger said.

“Every Memorial Day we have a service,” he said. “This year we will honor a fallen alumni … . Unfortunately, we have had to do that several times over the last several years.”

John Colter, state captain of the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group, was among dozens of veterans from Louisiana and Texas who escorted Istre’s remains to the funeral home Wednesday and to the cemetery on Thursday. The group also provided an honor guard at the funeral home’s entrance and lined more than 20 U.S., Army, POW and veterans flags outside the funeral home.

“We are here to honor Capt. Istre for his service to his country and to hopefully mitigate some of the grief the family is going through,” Colter said. “We are also here to show those soldiers still serving that they are supported back home.”

Robert LeBon of Abbeville was among those who helped post the flags outside the funeral home.

“This is our way of honoring this soldier and paying our respect by giving him a good send-off,” LeBon said. “Hopefully, it will make it easier for the family, just by our being here.”

Mary Abshire of Sulphur did not know Aaron Istre, but like many came to show support to the family.

“You can truly see God’s work here,” she said looking over the crowd gathered outside the funeral home. “This is awesome.”

Every seat in the funeral home was filled, with an overflow crowd standing during the service. Others held signs and waved U.S. flags as they watched the procession, being escorted by a police and motorcycle motorcade, slowly make its way to the cemetery.

(Brad Puckett / American Press)

Brad Puckett

(Brad Puckett / American Press)

(Brad Puckett / American Press)