AVON, Ohio — U.S. Navy Fleet Marine Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Maxton Soviak, 22, is now home in Ohio after a procession Wednesday.
The community in his hometown of Berlin Heights is reeling, but his life and legacy have touched many people nationwide, including Colleen Pepple, who didn’t know Soviak.
“I know I don’t know the family but to lose a child, it was just heartbreaking,” she said.
She said she felt compelled to honor the hero who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country in Afghanistan.
“It’s just so sad, so young and I thought of his mom right away,” she said.
Pepple’s son is serving in the Navy.
“I’m just beyond proud,” said Pepple. “I’m a little bit nervous, but I’m really proud. Just worried about something like this happening and it’s always in the back of my head.”
The mother put together a memorial service for the fallen sailor in her community, Avon. The ceremony just so happened to fall on the same day Soviak returned to his hometown, Berlin Heights.
“I mean everyone is heartbroken for the Soviak family,” she said.
Dozens of community members gathered at the Avon Veterans Memorial to pay their respects. Pepple read a statement from a long-time friend of the Soviak family and a local pastor led the crowd in a prayer. Various service members attended and taps were played.
Avon’s mayor, Bryan Jensen, was one of the speakers.
“I think the reason I want to be a part of it and I think the reason the community wants to be a part of it is we all have children. So, we all have a connection to this and then when you hear his story, you know, 22 years old, you know, played football, wrestled, was part of the band. It’s like I think that could be any one of our students here in the city of Avon, so it hits home,” said Jensen.
While Soviak’s family is asking to grieve in privacy, communities around the country are mourning the loss and thanking him for his service.
“Ultimately, they gave their life for us and I think the reason that we were over in Afghanistan was for freedom. He was there to help people and for freedom and I think that’s one of those debts we can never repay,” said Jensen.
