Katmandu
06-12-2012, 02:19 AM
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/fallen-butler-county-soldier-laid-to-rest-1389751.html
Fallen Butler County soldier laid to rest
Cpl. Nicholas Olivas was killed on patrol in Afghanistan. He was former Hamilton mayor’s son.
By Ed Richter, Staff Writer
Updated 1:24 AM Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Army Cpl. Nicholas Olivas, killed May 30 in Afghanistan, was laid to rest Monday as friends and family said their last goodbyes to the fallen soldier.
Olivas, a Fairfield High School graduate, was remembered as someone “who would stand by your side no matter what.”
Nick Mouester, who Olivas met and befriended just two years ago during basic training, gave the eulogy for the Hamilton native at Sacred Heart Church in Fairfield.
Mouester described Olivas as fun-loving, but also a smart, honorable man who was trustworthy, according to friends who attended the service.
Olivas was killed when an improvised explosive device exploded while he was on patrol in the Zharay, Afghanistan.
A member of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, N.C., he was deployed to Afghanistan in February.
The Rev. Jeff Silvers said his message at Mass was a reminder that “we remain connected to Nick.”
“He was a gift to us during his life and he set an example,” Silvers said. “We’ll see him again as we follow that example.”
He remembered Olivas helping his mother at church activities and said “he was always willing to help out.”
Jane Fox, a family friend, thought “it was a wonderful service” for Olivas, whom she has known since he was a small boy.
“I thought the outpouring from the community was wonderful,” she said. “I was so proud of the family and how strong they were through all of this. They were proud of Nick and that showed through. Nick would have been proud of them.”
Olivas was the youngest and only son of four children to Adolfo Olivas, who served as Hamilton’s mayor and vice mayor from 1984 to 2002, and Marian Olivas, a Butler County sheriff’s deputy.
A funeral procession of more than 80 vehicles, several law enforcement vehicles and a number of motorcyclists escorted the hearse carrying Olivas to St. Mary Cemetery in Hamilton.
Despite the drizzly weather, pockets of residents stood along the route to pay their respects to Olivas.
An Army honor guard carried Olivas’ flag-draped casket to the gravesite and full military honors were rendered.
A 2010 graduate of Fairfield High School, Olivas, 20, was married and became a father earlier this year when his son was born.
Olivas was the 30th servicemember in the local 9-county area who has been in killed in the line of duty since 2001.
.
Fallen Butler County soldier laid to rest
Cpl. Nicholas Olivas was killed on patrol in Afghanistan. He was former Hamilton mayor’s son.
By Ed Richter, Staff Writer
Updated 1:24 AM Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Army Cpl. Nicholas Olivas, killed May 30 in Afghanistan, was laid to rest Monday as friends and family said their last goodbyes to the fallen soldier.
Olivas, a Fairfield High School graduate, was remembered as someone “who would stand by your side no matter what.”
Nick Mouester, who Olivas met and befriended just two years ago during basic training, gave the eulogy for the Hamilton native at Sacred Heart Church in Fairfield.
Mouester described Olivas as fun-loving, but also a smart, honorable man who was trustworthy, according to friends who attended the service.
Olivas was killed when an improvised explosive device exploded while he was on patrol in the Zharay, Afghanistan.
A member of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, N.C., he was deployed to Afghanistan in February.
The Rev. Jeff Silvers said his message at Mass was a reminder that “we remain connected to Nick.”
“He was a gift to us during his life and he set an example,” Silvers said. “We’ll see him again as we follow that example.”
He remembered Olivas helping his mother at church activities and said “he was always willing to help out.”
Jane Fox, a family friend, thought “it was a wonderful service” for Olivas, whom she has known since he was a small boy.
“I thought the outpouring from the community was wonderful,” she said. “I was so proud of the family and how strong they were through all of this. They were proud of Nick and that showed through. Nick would have been proud of them.”
Olivas was the youngest and only son of four children to Adolfo Olivas, who served as Hamilton’s mayor and vice mayor from 1984 to 2002, and Marian Olivas, a Butler County sheriff’s deputy.
A funeral procession of more than 80 vehicles, several law enforcement vehicles and a number of motorcyclists escorted the hearse carrying Olivas to St. Mary Cemetery in Hamilton.
Despite the drizzly weather, pockets of residents stood along the route to pay their respects to Olivas.
An Army honor guard carried Olivas’ flag-draped casket to the gravesite and full military honors were rendered.
A 2010 graduate of Fairfield High School, Olivas, 20, was married and became a father earlier this year when his son was born.
Olivas was the 30th servicemember in the local 9-county area who has been in killed in the line of duty since 2001.
.