'The young man you want your son to grow up to be'

Image courtesy: Uzenski family/WBNG-TV

With an unimaginable catastrophe in Haiti dominating headlines and over 2,200 U.S. troops on their way to help the reeling island nation, it is important to remember that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will not pause. It's a fact the quiet community of Franklin, New York, knows all too well.

Cpl. Nick Uzenski is one of three Marines killed Monday in Afghanistan's Helmand Province. The Marines were a part of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Expeditionary Force. While Uzenski lived briefly in Texas with his father, who also served in the Marine Corps, his mother and several loved ones still live in upstate New York, where Uzenski grew up. The Daily Star paints the picture of a grieving, patriotic community:

Uzenski's mother, Lisa Uzenski, was notified of her son's death in person by military officials Tuesday. Her mother, Audrey Archibald, is a bus driver for the Franklin Central School District. Archibald informed school officials of Uzenski's death, which has shocked the school community, Superintendent Gordon Daniels said.

"A lot of my staff are just trying to hold it together," Daniels said. "He was such a positive young man."

Although Uzenski graduated 3 1/2 years ago, students also were affected by his death.

"A lot of the kids really did know him," Daniels said.

WBNG-TV spoke to some of Uzenski's teachers and coaches at Franklin High School, where he graduated in 2006:

"Nick was very special in so many different ways, he was the young man that you want your son to grow up to be, he was respectful, he worked hard at everything he did, he just, he had zest for life," says Franklin Athletic Director and Basketball Coach Matt Campbell.

"I remember his smile, he always was a happy kid, and we're just going to miss him," says Franklin Varsity Baseball Coach Steve DeCarlo.

The fallen Marine's flaged-draped casket arrived just over an hour ago in Dover, Delaware, and was greeted by his strong, courageous parents. At the same time, the sound of bells rang through Franklin's frigid air. A hometown hero who gave his life thousands of miles away is back in the country he fought for.