WILLIAMSBURG, OH, USA U.S. Marines LCPL, L CO, 3D BN, 25TH MAR, (RCT-2, 2D MAR DIV), 4TH MAR DIV, COLUMBUS OH KARABILAH, IRAQ 05/11/2005
For the second time this week, family and friends are mourning a Tri-state Marine killed in Iraq, News 5’s Ken Stinson reported. Lance Corporal Nick Erdy of Clermont County died Wednesday.
Erdy’s family said they didn’t want to say how he died, but they did say their grief is deep.
Erdy, 21, graduated from McNicholas High School in 2002 and played defensive back on the football team. Before he went overseas in February, Erdy asked his girlfriend Ashley to marry him. He thought of becoming a firefighter when he left the military. “All of his friends are in a state of shock,” said Nick Schmidt. “We don’t know what to do for everyone. It’s a great loss, not only for his family and friends but also for the McNicholas community.”
Erdy joined the Marines two years ago. Lance Corporal Nicholas Erdy was honored and proud to serve in the United States Marine Corps. He had dreamed of being in the military all his life and wanted nothing more than to be in Iraq where he could help his Marine brothers.
In Nick’s memory, his family has created the Nick Erdy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to benefit several non-for-profit groups. To date, The Foundation has contributed more than $60,000
Travelers who pass Clermont North Eastern High School on U.S. 50 may have noticed a new sign recently. The stretch of highway between the school and state Route 133 was dedicated as the Lance Corporal Nicholas B. Erdy Memorial Highway Friday, April 2.
Erdy was a Jackson Township resident who was killed on May 11, 2005 when his amphibious assault vehicle struck an explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Karabilah, Iraq. State Representative Danny Bubp led the emotional dedication ceremony.
“We are blessed to live in a country that is willing to do anything to preserve its freedom,” Bubp said. “Freedom isn’t cheap and this war has cost so much to so many.”
Bubp said he would like to see the names of all 5,000 who gave up their life fighting for their country displayed like Erdy’s.
“He had so much to live for and so much to give,” Bubp said.
Erdy’s friends and family gathered on the side of the road along with the public officials who worked to put the sign in place. State Representative Joe Uecker said it was very fitting that the ceremony was held on Good Friday.
“Today we memorialize the life of a young man who gave his life for his country on the day 2,000 years ago when a man gave his life for all of humanity,” Uecker said.
A friend and fellow soldier, Carl Schneider, was also at the ceremony. Schneider was in the vehicle with Erdy when it was hit and sustained severe injuries.
Bubp said we, like Nick’s cousin Chase Rosselot, have the freedom to go to college and accomplish whatever we set out to do because men like Schneider did their duty.
“You did your duty and as a result of that you’ve suffered immensely,” Bubp said. “I don’t know how many more signs will go up, I don’t know how many more young people are going to have to die, but it’s a cost we have to bear.”
Schneider said he will drive past the sign everyday on his way to work in Hillsboro.
“This is a great way to remember Nick and everybody that died,” Schneider said.
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