You could hear a pin drop when the body of fallen Marine Lance Corporal Blaise Oleski arrived in Rome earlier this morning. Hundreds of people from the community, friends, family and strangers lined the roads to pay their respects. There were veterans holding flags with pride in their eyes and civilians with tears at the loss of a young man. People we spoke with say he is an honor to their community and died doing what he wanted to do and that was serve our country. Others who didn’t know him on a personal level felt the need to stay outside today paying honors, because he was protecting our country. The silence was moving. One person said it was a sad but peaceful goodbye to a great man.
Calling hours for Oleski will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Barry Funeral Home at 807 West Chestnut Street in Rome from 2pm until 8pm. The funeral will follow on Thursday morning at 11am at Saint Peter’s Church, also in Rome.
The 22 year old died last Wednesday in Afghanistan. He was a graduated from Holland Patent.
