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Helping soldiers was her mission

Nicole Formosa
Vail, CO Colorado

BRECKENRIDGE ” Colorado National Guard Capt. Lynn Scutellaro spent several years helping soldiers reintegrate with their families upon their return from war zones before she was deployed to Iraq herself in late 2005.

Scutellaro, 28, of Evergreen, was struck and killed by a Breckenridge trolley Saturday night at the corner of Main and Watson streets. The Colorado State Patrol continues to investigate the accident.

Wayne Hankammer worked with Scutellaro when she organized reintegration and readjustment retreats in 2004 for soldiers returning from overseas. The retreats, for groups sometimes as large as 80 soldiers, focused on issues like loss of independence, restablishing routines and reconnecting with families members.



Scutellaro took care of everything on the retreats, from booking accommodations and e-mailing agendas to organizing all the necessary resources, Hankammer said.

Her passion for her work went well beyond the definition of dedication.”Dedicated doesn’t even come close,” he said. “It was more like she was a stand-up woman. You could depend on her. She was amazing, she was vibrant. Gosh, she was so full of life.”

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Scutellaro organized retreats in Breckenridge, Glenwood Springs and several other places before she was deployed to Iraq in November 2005. Scutellaro, a helicopter pilot, served a 12-month tour.

“She’s a great American who served her country well, who loved her parents and her brother, Rich, and his fiancee, Beth, and she will be in the wedding in our spirits,” said close family friend Debbie Danish.

Scutellaro’s brother’s is getting married in September.

Scutellaro was buried Wednesday at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Memorials in Scutellaro’s name can be made to Alpine Rescue Team, P.O. Box 934, Evergreen, CO 80437.


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