Sac City grad mourned at service in Carroll
By Tim Gallagher, Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, November 25, 2007
Casket bearers carry a flag-draped casket containing Sgt. Adrian Hike during grave side services Saturday at Carroll Cemetery located in Carroll, Iowa. (AP photo)
CARROLL, Iowa -- A former high school football player and school newspaper staffer was buried Saturday in Carroll, the 16th Siouxland soldier to die while on active duty in the War on Terror.
In a funeral Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll, U.S. Army Sgt. Adrian E. Hike, 26, was called a hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Hike, who earned a Purple Heart for injuries sustained while fighting in Iraq two years ago, was killed Nov. 12 when his vehicle hit and detonated a roadside bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan during his second tour of duty.
Hike's cavalry hat and the U.S. flag topped his coffin. Both were presented to family members following military graveside services at Carroll City Cemetery.
"Today we celebrate love," the Rev. James McCormick said. "And love always means sacrifice. Love is not fun. Love is living a life for others."
Family members noted Hike kept details of his duty from his mother, Kim Bird of nearby Ralston, as a way to ease her peace of mind.
McCormick took note of the more than 50 soldiers, veterans and law enforcement personnel in uniform at the funeral, saying he'd never seen so many uniforms in the church at one time. A picture on the funeral program shows Hike as a toddler already dressed in an Army uniform.
"A uniform says I'm ready to sacrifice out of love," McCormick said.
McCormick challenged family members and friends present to take up the lesson their son, brother and friend may have imparted in his death. "The U.S. has more people in jail than any other civilized country in the world," he said. "What does that say?"
McCormick said we, as a nation, can and must do better. The biblical words of Paul, he added, indicate our battle won't be against flesh and blood, but against selfishness.
"We can't just be peace keepers," he concluded. "We must be peace makers."
U.S. Army officials called Hike a magnificent soldier and presented his mother with her son's Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Hike's family, which has several members living in Odebolt, Iowa, including his father Robert Bird, was lauded for the sacrifices it made while he served in harm's way.
As the church choir sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," Kim Bird was saluted and her son's coffin was carried away.
Nearly 50 members of the Patriot Guard Riders were on hand holding flags and serving as escorts for Hike's body, which was placed next to his grandfather, Ferman E. Stout, a former sheriff's deputy for Carroll County. Stout died in 2002.
Members of the Carroll Fire Department suspended a giant U.S. flag over the intersection before Holy Spirit Church.
In nearby Sac City, Hike's hometown, volunteers worked at the fire station near a flag flying at half staff. People planted signs announcing the arrival of Sen. Hillary Clinton, who gave a speech under the lowered flag five hours after the funeral.
At the Sac City Public Library nearby, staffers carted out Christmas decorations as a visitor paged through the 2000 Chieftain yearbook, a book that showed young Adrian Hike as a Sac City High School football player, a student newspaper staff member and an occasional maverick. On page seven of the senior portraits section, all seniors have a traditional posed picture. All but Hike, that is.
Where most were shown close-up with a colorful background, Hike was pictured kneeling on the roof of his workplace, Casey's General Store. He sported a cap, wearing it backward. His smile? On the irreverent side.
"I am Batman," the caption read.
A painted portrait of Sgt. Adrian Hike in his military dress uniform greeted mourners at his funeral Saturday. A symbol in the corner of the painting matched one he used to close his yearbook farewell message. It's a black bat spreading its wings, the well-known emblem of a superhero fighting to protect the general public.
"I'd just like to say good-bye to everyone," he wrote in his senior yearbook, listing friends like Dave, Kevin and Miah along with buddies he called "Pork Chop" and "Puff Daddy."
He used his nickname as a signature, signing off as "Batman."
In a funeral Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll, U.S. Army Sgt. Adrian E. Hike, 26, was called a hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Hike, who earned a Purple Heart for injuries sustained while fighting in Iraq two years ago, was killed Nov. 12 when his vehicle hit and detonated a roadside bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan during his second tour of duty.
Hike's cavalry hat and the U.S. flag topped his coffin. Both were presented to family members following military graveside services at Carroll City Cemetery.
"Today we celebrate love," the Rev. James McCormick said. "And love always means sacrifice. Love is not fun. Love is living a life for others."
Family members noted Hike kept details of his duty from his mother, Kim Bird of nearby Ralston, as a way to ease her peace of mind.
McCormick took note of the more than 50 soldiers, veterans and law enforcement personnel in uniform at the funeral, saying he'd never seen so many uniforms in the church at one time. A picture on the funeral program shows Hike as a toddler already dressed in an Army uniform.
"A uniform says I'm ready to sacrifice out of love," McCormick said.
McCormick challenged family members and friends present to take up the lesson their son, brother and friend may have imparted in his death. "The U.S. has more people in jail than any other civilized country in the world," he said. "What does that say?"
McCormick said we, as a nation, can and must do better. The biblical words of Paul, he added, indicate our battle won't be against flesh and blood, but against selfishness.
"We can't just be peace keepers," he concluded. "We must be peace makers."
U.S. Army officials called Hike a magnificent soldier and presented his mother with her son's Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Hike's family, which has several members living in Odebolt, Iowa, including his father Robert Bird, was lauded for the sacrifices it made while he served in harm's way.
As the church choir sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," Kim Bird was saluted and her son's coffin was carried away.
Nearly 50 members of the Patriot Guard Riders were on hand holding flags and serving as escorts for Hike's body, which was placed next to his grandfather, Ferman E. Stout, a former sheriff's deputy for Carroll County. Stout died in 2002.
Members of the Carroll Fire Department suspended a giant U.S. flag over the intersection before Holy Spirit Church.
In nearby Sac City, Hike's hometown, volunteers worked at the fire station near a flag flying at half staff. People planted signs announcing the arrival of Sen. Hillary Clinton, who gave a speech under the lowered flag five hours after the funeral.
At the Sac City Public Library nearby, staffers carted out Christmas decorations as a visitor paged through the 2000 Chieftain yearbook, a book that showed young Adrian Hike as a Sac City High School football player, a student newspaper staff member and an occasional maverick. On page seven of the senior portraits section, all seniors have a traditional posed picture. All but Hike, that is.
Where most were shown close-up with a colorful background, Hike was pictured kneeling on the roof of his workplace, Casey's General Store. He sported a cap, wearing it backward. His smile? On the irreverent side.
"I am Batman," the caption read.
A painted portrait of Sgt. Adrian Hike in his military dress uniform greeted mourners at his funeral Saturday. A symbol in the corner of the painting matched one he used to close his yearbook farewell message. It's a black bat spreading its wings, the well-known emblem of a superhero fighting to protect the general public.
"I'd just like to say good-bye to everyone," he wrote in his senior yearbook, listing friends like Dave, Kevin and Miah along with buddies he called "Pork Chop" and "Puff Daddy."
He used his nickname as a signature, signing off as "Batman."
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