LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington native Capt. Matthew Roland is one of 120 Kentucky soldiers killed in action during the War on Terror. 

As the nation commemorates the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks on 9/11, families are also paying tribute to the men and women who served during the War on Terror. 

Capt. Matthew Roland's marker and flag are located at G-15 of the Healing Field (Spectrum News 1/Jonathon Gregg)

On the anniversary, a ceremony will be held at the Healing Field in Lawrenceburg where 120 flags will be flying in honor of the 120 Kentuckians killed in action since 9/11. One of those flags is raised for Matthew. 

“That’s mom and dad and Matthew, and that’s at his graduation from the Special Tactics Training Squadron," retired Air Force Col. Mark Roland describes a picture on his mantel in his Lexington home. Mark, Matthew's father, has a better understanding than most of the elite field his son was in. 

“They are probably the most diversely trained and qualified special operations forces in the entire Department of Defense," Mark said of the special tactics designation.

Matthew was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 26, 2015, as he was leading a convoy through a checkpoint when they came under fire.

Capt. Matthew Roland. (Roland Family)

“Matthew saw what was going on, keyed his microphone, called out an insider attack to the rest of the convoy, put the bus in reverse and swung the bus around so that the Green Beret on the bus could lay down fire on the attackers. That was his last move," Mark said. His only son was killed instantly from machine gunfire. He was 27 years old. 

The soldier tasked with replacing Matthew was killed in the fire fight as well. That soldier's name is SSGT Forrest Sibly. Sibly was sitting behind Matthew as the attack began. 

“When he was killed, he was two weeks from coming home," Mark said.

Mark and his wife Barabara spend the anniversary of their son’s death in Arlington National Cemetery. Tragically, the same date is now shared with the death of 13 U.S. soldiers killed in an explosion near Kabul airport. 

“I can’t tell you how emotional that was for us. Sadness, empathy, sympathy, anger, so it is all tied together," Mark said.

On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, the Rolands will be at the Healing Field to remember the lives lost on that day and read the names of all the Kentucky soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice fighting these last 20 years. 

“The thing that I take solace in is that when Matthew was killed, he was doing what he believed in. He was good at what he was doing and he was well respected for how he did it," Mark said. "As a parent, I can ask for nothing better.”

In May 2021, the U.S. Air Force renamed its special tactics training complex in Florida to the “Roland Field Leadership Training Complex” in honor of the fallen Lexington native.