CHITTENANGO -- Hearts are heavy across Chittenango community, where three lives were cut short in the past week.
"How sad it is that three tragedies like this can happen in this small community," said Cici Laughlin.
"This is going to have an affect on the people that are directly involved, and then the community and their neighbors. And their heart mind and soul. It's a grieving process that the whole community goes through," said Pastor Daniel Maxfield with the First Baptist Church in Chittenango.
Family and friends of Sgt. Edward Bolen of Chittenango are mourning his death. The 2003 graduate of Chittenango High school was killed in Afghanistan. Sgt. Bolen had recently deployed overseas. In fact, he was a newlywed and was just married in September.
Sgt. Bolen's body arrived at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware early Friday morning. His funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized, but we're told he will likely be buried with full military honors.
Bolen was an All-Star football player, a baseball player and musician at Chittenango High School. Friends say he was outgoing and a great person to be around. His family lives in California now, but they are planning a funeral service back here locally. After graduating high school, Bolen went to St. John Fisher college and SUNY Cortland where he met his wife Andrea. They were married in September.
There has already been an outpouring of support from the community. Speaking with CNY Central by phone Friday, Bill Cretaro, teacher and assistant football coach at Chittenango said, "He was a real likeable kid. He was a real good athlete...disciplined and ready to serve. We cared a lot about him. He was an outstanding young man. We appreciate his service to the country and his ultimate sacrifice."
Many of you have posted comments about him on our Facebook page. One reader writes, "I want to say to his family I know it took a lot of courage, dedication to do what he did for our country, he should be honored he put his life on the line for all of us."
Another says, "Thank you to Mr. Bolen and his family for his selfless, ultimate sacrifice to us and our country!!!! Forever Rest In Peace Mr. Bolen!!!"
Read Matt Mulcahy's memo on this loss of this hometown hero.
Meanwhile, the same community is reeling from the sudden loss of a woman hit and killed by a man who, police say, had drugs in his system and was looking at his cell phone.
Lynn Eggert, 57, was out walking her dog with her husband Steven, who was not hurt. State police say Jason Forshee, 37, had smoked marijuana night before and had taken prescription drugs. He's currently out on $5,000 bail. Madison County prosecutors are considering whether to file more charges in the case.
Meanwhile, we are learning more about Eggert. She was a wife, a mother, a sister and a grandmother to four grandchildren.
According to her obituary, Eggert was born and raised in Syracuse and moved to Chittenango in 1980. She was a graduate of the former Cathedral Academy in 1971 and SUNY Canton in 1973. She worked as a laboratory technician with Laboratory Alliance at St. Joseph's Hospital for the past 37 years. She also served as the coordinator of the Crop Walk for several years. She is survived by her husband of 14 years, Steven and her daughter, Stephanie. Click here to read her full obituary.
Eggert will be laid to rest on Monday. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Chittenango. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in DeWitt. Calling hours will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday at the G.F. Zimmer Funeral Home in Chittenango.
Also, CNY Central has learned that a young woman who lost her life in a car crash this week is also a graduate of Chittenango High School.
Jessica Coon died Wednesday when her SUV rolled over in the Town of Manlius. She was 20 years old. She succumbed to injuries caused when she was pinned by her vehicle up against a roadside tree.
"We've lost so many people in such a short amount of time as soon as we rise above and try to get past the last one, try to move in, it seems like we always get set back. We keep getting brought back down," said Alanna Haynes.
Neighbors say the community is supporting and resilient, and will work together in the time of crisis to get through the healing process.
"Sometimes in a crazy way, it's things like this that bring the community together to bond. It really makes you appreciate that you get to know your neighbors because they are your support and they're the people that are going to get you through," said Chittenango High school Prinicipal Derek Sajnog.
