“Our Hero” The only solace is found in the outstretched arms of the community Daniel and Rita Hasenauer are beginning to understand the pain and pride that comes with being parents of a fallen hero. It’s the Monday after the largest funeral the village of Hilton has witnessed in a long time. Over the weekend, buses were used to transport mourners to the services and hundreds of firemen lined the street to give Specialist (he was promoted posthumously) Jason Hasenauer a fitting burial. This afternoon, Daniel and Rita Hasenauer are sitting at the kitchen table of their Dunbar Road home, looking through some of their son’s belongings and still trying to cope with the magnitude of their loss. “We don’t sleep,” said Daniel. “There is so much to do.” And there is so much heartbreak to overcome. Daniel can still see the officers in full dress uniform standing in his driveway. One of Jason’s younger brothers is planning to join the Reserves and he thought the servicemen might be stopping by to talk to him. However, when Daniel saw the chaplain standing behind the other two officers, he knew this was no recruiting visit. “Before they could get in the house I said, ‘We lost Jason,’ ” Daniel said. His son, 21 years old, died while serving in Afghanistan. “It was his calling to help everyone,” said Daniel. “He touched more lives than I had ever thought.” Proof of Jason’s impact was on display over the weekend. The family has been overwhelmed with e-mails, on-line tributes, phone calls, media coverage and other forms of affection provided by admirers from far beyond the village borders. Nearly 500 people paid their respects during calling hours, and no seat was left empty at the funeral service. The street on the way to the cemetery was lined with hundreds of firemen. Families who had lost loved ones serving in the military paid tribute to Jason and offered love and support. “We have definitely been on the receiving end of a lot of prayers,” said Rita. “I doubt we would have otherwise gotten through this.” Jason, a 2003 Hilton graduate and a Hilton firefighter, died while serving in Afghanistan as part of the 82nd Airborne. He was killed when the Humvee he was traveling in rolled over. The tragic news was delivered to the Hasenauer family December 28, one day after they had last talked with Jason over the phone. Jason called as he prepared to leave on a one-day mission. Like all of their prior phone conversations, it ended with Jason sharing a heartfelt “I love you.” Their eldest son, one of four boys (Daniel, Jeremy and Eric), he never struggled with expressing his feelings. Jason was always smiling, a happy and caring young man. His engaging smile and contagious enthusiasm endeared him to many. “He had many surrogate mothers,” Daniel quipped. Jason was active in school and played recreation sports. Through those activities he touched a lot of lives. Interested in his father’s association with the Hilton Fire Department, Jason joined the Hilton Explorer Post at the age of 14. He embraced his service and eventually became Explorer Chief. When he was 18 years old, he joined the Fire Department. Even while in the Army, he routinely called his friends in the Hilton Fire Department to stay in touch. Hilton Chief Mark Kalen, who knew Jason for six years, said he will be remembered for his dedication and for the respect he showed the men and women of the department. Kalen was pleased to see that sentiment returned as more than 300 firefighters turned out for the service. “I have been in the fire service for a little over 22 years,” Kalen said. “To be honest, this weekend was the first time I realized how special it is.” Jason’s name will also be added to the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial. “One way or the other, Jason’s name will never be forgotten within this fire department,” Kalen said. Jason’s legacy will also live on through his one-month-old daughter, Kayla, who he saw only through photos. He was scheduled to return in February to baptize Kayla and solidify wedding plans with his fiancée, Colette Kopp. For now, the only solace is found in the outstretched arms of the community. “We want to thank everyone for their love and support,” said Rita. “Words can’t express how touched we have been.”
January 15, 2006 |
