Community Corner

Fallen Soldier, Father of 2 to Be Honored

Lac St. Clair Little League is going to honor Staff Sgt. Ergin Osman, who died in Afghanistan, in a pregame ceremony Saturday. Osman's sons, ages 9 and 5, of St. Clair Shores, were just starting their new season.

The past few weeks has been a roller coaster ride of emotions for the family of Staff Sgt. Ergin Osman who died while serving in Afghanistan, but the one constant for his young boys has been baseball.

As their father, who was 35, served his ninth tour of duty, sons Aidan, 9, and Zeren, 5, who live in St. Clair Shores with their mother, were beginning a new season of baseball with Lac St. Clair Little League.  

On May 26, Osman died from injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his unit, the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, KY, with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

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The week after his father was buried in the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Aidan asked his mother if could go to his baseball game that evening.

Matt Crippen, Lac St. Clair Little League president, shared that Aidan said baseball "helps me feel OK."

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When he stepped up to the plate on June 5, he slammed a triple.

"It was pretty emotional," Crippen said of the hit. "Baseball has been keeping them going."

Members of Lac St. Clair Little League and the community will honor Osman and show their support for his family during a pregame ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at . 

Following the ceremony, Osman's boys will be taking the field with their teammates for games.

"This will be celebration of life and service," said Shawn Nicholson, who is helping plan the ceremony.

Nicholson added that commemorative bracelets will be sold to raise money for Osman's sons and a memorial trust fund has been set up at One Bank. Donations can be made to the Staff .Ergin V. Osman Memorial Fund (acct#4520136813).


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