On Oct. 21, hundreds of people attended the dedication of a park in memory of the late Marine Corporal Kevin T. Kolm of Hicksville who died on April 13, 2004 from hostile fire in Fallujah, an Anbar province in Iraq. He was 23 years old.

The turnout was incredible as members and officials from Hicksville American Soccer Club (HASC) as well as Oyster Bay Town officials, Vietnam veterans, Marine soldiers and color guard, local Girl Scouts and the Nassau County Police Department's Emerald Society Pipe Band joined friends and members of the Kolm family for the 90-minute memorial ceremony. HASC is especially proud that the formerly named Triangle Park will now be known as the Corporal Kevin T. Kolm Memorial Park and is located at the corner of Old Country Road and Plainview Road (one block west of South Oyster Bay Road).

At the time of his death, Cpl. Kolm was serving in the First Marine Expeditionary Force, having volunteered for a transfer from the Third Assault Amphibian Battalion's Bravo Company to Alpha Company because he knew Alpha was bound for Iraq. He was the crew chief of an amphibious assault vehicle who volunteered his vehicle for an assault on an insurgent stronghold. Cpl. Kolm, who was well-liked by all who served with him and often gave nicknames like "Jungle Jam" and "Shaky Jake" to his fellow Marines, was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor in combat.

Cpl. Kolm, a graduate of Hicksville High School, was the third generation of Kolm men to serve in the Marines. His father, Thomas, served as a corporal in Vietnam and his grandfather, Ralph, served as a corporal in Japan during World War II. Growing up, he played in local youth sports leagues and was a member of the Hicksville PAL lacrosse program.

As part of the ceremony, inscribed tablets at the park were unveiled. The tablets will stand as a permanent tribute to a man who played on the ball field as a youngster and later died on the battlefield while defending this nation's freedom. In paying tribute to Cpl. Kolm, the park dedication ceremony included presentations from New York State Assemblyman Rob Walker, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker. Kevin's parents, Thomas and Jackie Kolm, also gave a poignant presentation, reading their late son's Bronze Star Citation. HASC also presented the Kolms with a banner, signed by over 200 children.

The soccer club, which provided refreshments and snacks for all those in attendance, also celebrated the completion of the newly built field house, expanded parking facility and playground. The Cpl. Kevin T. Kolm Memorial Park will be a proud addition to the Hicksville community and all of Long Island.

A memorial online slideshow has been created and can be viewed by visiting the Hicksville American Soccer Club website at www.hicksvillesoccerclub.com.