CARLISLE, Pa.- Sgt. Adam Schoeller enlisted in the Marines right after graduating from Boiling Springs High School in 2008. He has a family history of serving. His sister, Shannon, was in the Army and so was his father, Ralph.
Saturday, February 20, a memorial service was held for Adam.
"It’s a tragic loss. I am not sure you ever get over that. That’s not the objective; it's that you simply remember, reflect and focus on the joy that you had," said Pastor Bob Hylton.
Friends and family described Adam as having a smile too big for his face! He was funny, honest and loyal. Capt. Darrin Carrier calls him a "top notch crew chief" and "one of the best!"
"Adam was the type of person who would walk into a room and he had command of the room and if he got into something it was full fledged. There was never anything that was half done," said Adam's former teacher, Chelle McIntyre-Brewer.
He married the love of his life, Samantha, on July 4, 2015. His wife and family wrote a thank you in the service program. In part they wrote, "we appreciate the outpouring of love and support offered to our family by this community and the thousands of prayers offered up on our behalf."
They thanked Adam's fellow Marines, many of whom were present, for sharing stories about Adam. All 850 people in attendance were asked to fill out cards with a story of Adam.
"There are few people in the world that you can look up to, especially when you are older than them, and I look up to him," said McIntyre-Brewer.
McIntyre-Brewer was Adam's eighth grade teacher. At the time, his sister was serving overseas. Schoeller, McIntyre-Brewer and her class, started sending care packages to soldiers and Soldier's List was created. It is still in operation today.
McIntyre-Brewer says Adam will live on. They plan to work with Susquehanna Service Dogs to name a dog after Adam and with Socks for Vets to name a goat "Schoeller".
A gofundme account has been setup for the Adam Schoeller Family to reimburse the Semper Fi Fund which covered the family’s travel to Hawaii.