 "Photo: Suzanne Caraker ~ Daily Egyptian")
Students and faculty gathered outside Monday to honor the life of Omar Wilson, a student who died Oct. 19 from injuries sustained in a car-motorcycle accident.
More than 20 people came together at noon Monday by the flagpole at the south end of Woody Hall for a local memorial service held to remember Wilson.
Chris Piha, veterans coordinator, said he was very close to Wilson, who took great pride in being a veteran.
“This was a new thing for him, being at a university,” Piha said. “He had to overcome a lot of obstacles, and a lot of people helped him, and he helped a lot of people along the way.”
The Rev. Bob Gray, university chaplain, said the service reflected Wilson’s military experience, with lowering the flags to half-staff during the ceremony. Gray also distributed small American flags to those in attendance to place in the soil around the flagpole as a symbol of unity as a nation.
“Omar gave a lot to his country,” Gray said.
Gray said the morning after Wilson died, Wilson’s father told him he had thought everything would be fine for his son after he had returned safely from serving in Iraq.
“I guess one of the lessons that I learned from this tragedy was how quickly life on this earth can be over,” Gray said.
Chrissy Gross, a senior from Hamilton studying psychology, said she met Wilson through his girlfriend and she would miss the energy Wilson brought.
“He was the life of the party,” Gross said.
Heather Hull, a doctoral student in speech communication from Tempe, Ariz., said Wilson was a student in her introduction to public speaking class.
“He was a really hard worker,” Hull said. “He was really focused.”
Hull said the accident was hard to hear about and deal with.
Marie Haberzetle, a junior from Reddick studying psychology, said she also met Wilson through his girlfriend and was hardly able to speak after the service.
“There aren’t words,” Haberzetle said.
Madeleine Leroux can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254.
