Avon Lake mourns soldier killed in Iraq
Stephen Szucs | The Chronicle-Telegram
AVON LAKE — Flags throughout the city were lowered to half-mast Friday in honor of fallen soldier U.S. Army Capt. Michael Medders Jr.
Word that the 2001 Avon Lake High School graduate, who was an All-Ohio football star and son of Elyria Police Chief Michael Medders, had been killed in Iraq spread quickly throughout the community Thursday and to the Bowling Green State University campus, where he had been an U.S. Army lieutenant through the college’s ROTC program.
“For me, it’s traumatic,” said Carol Schermbeck, a secretary in BGSU’s Army ROTC department. “When something like this happens, it’s just devastating, it’s like losing one of your own. He was a very nice guy — great personality, very helpful to the other cadets. You can’t say enough about him. It’s just sad.”
The details surrounding Medders’ death still haven’t been released by the U.S. Department of Defense. Chief Medders said the family didn’t wish to comment when reached by phone Friday.
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The younger Medders graduated from BGSU in 2005 and entered the U.S. Army shortly thereafter. He went on to serve with the U.S. Army’s 2nd Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment based out of Fort Hood, Texas, and was deployed in October 2007, Army spokesman Sgt. Martin Maley said.
The tragic news of Medders’ death was all but too familiar for Avon Lake Councilman Larry Meiners, 3rd Ward, who lost his son, 28-year-old Marine Capt. Jason Meiners, during a training exercise in North Carolina in 2001.
“I got the call yesterday early, and the rest of my day was nothing but tears,” Meiners said. “It brought back everything I felt when Jason had been killed. When you’ve been through this once, you kind of relapse on that memory.”
Meiners said following the death of his own son, he suffered through bouts of intense grief before finding help through counseling and his faith.
The experience, he said, is something he’ll never forget, but he’s learned to carry on.
“It was a very, very intense struggle,” he said. “It took therapy sessions, help from a lot of friends, praying and going to church.”
Avon Lake Superintendent Bob Scott passed Meiners’ name on to several students who intend to set up a memorial in Medders’ honor.
Avon Lake High football coach Dave Dlugosz said school alumni will be planting a memorial tree in Medders’ honor, and there are plans for a monument in memory of his former star.
A moment of silence was observed before Avon Lake’s 12-6 win Friday at North Olmsted in honor of Medders.
“I didn’t want to demean his honor by saying this game was for him,” Dlugosz said. “He’s much bigger than a football game.”
Meiners said a group will meet Sunday to discuss options, including the potential for a care-package program in Medders’ name and a long-term memorial somewhere in the city.
The Mike Medders’ memorial fund already has been set up at FirstMerit Bank in Avon Lake, and donations can be made through any FirstMerit affiliate throughout the county.
Meiners, who is a Vietnam veteran and member of the American Legion in Avon Lake, said the organization will be working with the local VFW to help the Medders family.
“When something like this happens, you rally around the (American) flag,” Meiners said. “You’re not supposed to bury your children. We’re willing to do whatever we can with due respect to his family.”
Chronicle sports writer Chris Assenheimer contributed to this report.
Contact Stephen Szucs at 329-7129 or sszucs@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Stephen Szucs | The Chronicle-Telegram September 27th, 2008 in BREAKING, Top Stories. Popularity: 4% |
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Comment from
PapaC1957
September 29, 2008, 3:35 pm
We honor your son today, as well as pray for your family during your time of sorrow. May the Lord give you peace.
Clarence Bell
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