Fallen Soldier Blaise Oleski
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: May 28, 2012
Every day is Memorial Day for families and friends of fallen soldiers. Blaise Oleski of Holland Patent was just 22-years old when he was killed in combat in Afghanistan 3 years ago. Family friends of Oleski say time doesn't always heal all wounds-- as they remember Oleski everyday.
"It doesn't just happen because somebody throws a day on the calendar and says today we're gonna remember our troops. For me, it could be a Thursday night when I'm sitting by myself or a day that I'm sitting at the bar and his favorite song comes on. To me, those are the days that are special. Today is just the day everybody else calls me," says Trevor Hiffa.
Trevor Hiffa was Blaise Oleski's best friend, or as he says, his brother. Though three years have past since Lance Corporal Oleski was killed in combat, Hiffa says he still feels the hurt everyday.
"Those days where you just feel alone in a crowded room, someone as close to you as a brother or best friend is the only person that can fill that void-- and there's just no one to fill it. When there's no one to fill it, that's hard enough but when you realize that person was here and they're not here anymore, that's the most difficult time for me," says Hiffa.
Friends remember Blaise for his good heart and his caring nature.
Former girlfriend Samantha Sexton says, "Blaise was such a beautiful person, so good to people. For me, it was so hard to believe none of us would have him again. He was loved by so many and touched so many people's lives. Even if you knew Blaise for 5 minutes, you remembered him for the rest of your life."
While family and friends deal with broken hearts, they find comfort knowing Blaise died doing what he loved: serving his country.
Hiffa adds, "You almost feel like there's a light inside of you because of the things he did, the things he accomplished and the sacrifices he made and it makes you so proud."
Blaise Oleski is gone but not forgotten. Friends say he leaves an everlasting legacy.
"Even if I live 100 years, I probably won't make as much of a difference on this world as Blaise did at 22," says Hiffa.
"It doesn't just happen because somebody throws a day on the calendar and says today we're gonna remember our troops. For me, it could be a Thursday night when I'm sitting by myself or a day that I'm sitting at the bar and his favorite song comes on. To me, those are the days that are special. Today is just the day everybody else calls me," says Trevor Hiffa.
Trevor Hiffa was Blaise Oleski's best friend, or as he says, his brother. Though three years have past since Lance Corporal Oleski was killed in combat, Hiffa says he still feels the hurt everyday.
"Those days where you just feel alone in a crowded room, someone as close to you as a brother or best friend is the only person that can fill that void-- and there's just no one to fill it. When there's no one to fill it, that's hard enough but when you realize that person was here and they're not here anymore, that's the most difficult time for me," says Hiffa.
Friends remember Blaise for his good heart and his caring nature.
Former girlfriend Samantha Sexton says, "Blaise was such a beautiful person, so good to people. For me, it was so hard to believe none of us would have him again. He was loved by so many and touched so many people's lives. Even if you knew Blaise for 5 minutes, you remembered him for the rest of your life."
While family and friends deal with broken hearts, they find comfort knowing Blaise died doing what he loved: serving his country.
Hiffa adds, "You almost feel like there's a light inside of you because of the things he did, the things he accomplished and the sacrifices he made and it makes you so proud."
Blaise Oleski is gone but not forgotten. Friends say he leaves an everlasting legacy.
"Even if I live 100 years, I probably won't make as much of a difference on this world as Blaise did at 22," says Hiffa.
