Son of Sen. Becky Lourey dies in Iraq

The Pioneer Press is reporting that the son of state senator Becky Lourey, D-Kerrick, died in a helicopter crash in Iraq. Matthew Lourey, 41, was a helicopter pilot stationed near Fallujah and was doing his second tour of duty when he died.

Sen. Lourey is chairwoman of the senate Health and Family Security committee. She is the chief sponsor of the senate bill to curtail the use of vaccines containing the mercury-based preservative thimerosal, which is how I came to know her.

I have no magic words that can ease the hurt for Becky and her family. However, having gotten to know her a little, I have faith that she will find strength in that same source that imparted that characteristic to her son.

My thoughts and prayers for Becky and her family.