Salute to Service - PFC Keely Walsh

Army National Guard

March 25, 1996 – December 14, 2014

Represented by Nicholas Grigsby and Deatrich Wise Jr.

United States Army National Guard Private First Class Keely R. Walsh was born on March 25, 1996.  She lived in Lancaster, Massachusetts.

Keely was a 4H alumni, having been in 4H since the age of five. She showed Beef Cattle (Belted Galloways) with some of the country's best Belted Galloway breeders. There are numerous awards presented in her memory to outstanding 4H members.

Keely was fearless in her pursuit of excellence and decided to join the military when she was 17 years old. She had talked to a recruiter and decided that this was what her passion was. Keely was going to be a Military Police Officer and then join the Police force after her time with the Guard was complete.

She loved being a soldier. Her smile was infectious and she was loved by all who knew her. Her battle buddies say that when everything seemed too much for them to handle, PFC Walsh was there telling them that it wasn't so bad. She would tell them to "embrace the suck."

Keely loved watching the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoons with family and friends. When she was little, Keely's sister, Grace, would say that Tom Brady was her father – so there was always a joke flying around that Grace's father was playing football on TV.

Keely was killed in a car accident on her way to National Guard Drill on December 14, 2014. She was 18 years old at the time of her passing. Keely's family and friends honor her memory every year a Memorial Ride for Veterans that raises money for local Veterans Charities.