ORONO – More than 200 family members, veterans and friends honored an American hero Wednesday.

Army Staff Sgt. Eric Shea Ross was remembered during a funeral at Orono High School by people who knew him as a loving husband, father, son, brother and soldier.

“If there is one word that I could use to describe Eric, it would be ‘kind,'” the Rev. Michael Cox said during the hourlong ceremony in the gymnasium. Ross, 26, graduated from Orono High in 1998.

He was serving his second tour of duty when he was killed Feb. 9 during combat operations in Baqouba, Iraq, a city northeast of Baghdad in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle.

Assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, of the 1st Cavalry Division based at Fort Hood, Texas, Ross was the leader for a platoon of eight men. He and his unit entered a booby-trapped building.

“He always lightened the situation for the men around him,” Cox said he had been told by one of Ross’ comrades.

When he called home, the soldier always was sure to emphasize that he was determined to make sure the men that he was responsible for would make it home to their loved ones.

He loved his family – proven by the words of his little brother, Micah Bickmore, that were read by a family friend: “He is my hero.”

The boy, who stood behind the podium at the front of the gym while the words he had written about his big brother were read, said he always looked up to Ross and wanted to follow in his footsteps and join the military.

Ross also stood true to the Infantryman’s Creed that his mother, Rhonda Bickmore, read. A picture of her son stood nearby on an easel behind the flag-draped casket that was surrounded by flowers.

“Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on – through the foe, to the objective, to triumph over all. If necessary, I fight to my death,” his mother read.

“Eric not only lived this creed, he was an infantryman,” she said.

He embodied the words of Toby Keith’s country song “American Soldier,” which was played mid-way through the service.

The lyrics filled the large room while many raised tissues to dab their eyes:

“I will always do my duty no matter what the price. I’ve counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice. Oh, and I don’t want to die for you but if dying’s asked of me, I’ll bear that cross with honor, ’cause freedom don’t come free.”

Ross’ dedication to his country resulted in his death, and for his military service, the soldier’s family members were presented with numerous medals and commendations on his behalf.

An emotional Sgt. Marty Choate, pausing at times to regain his composure, read the awards as they were presented to Ross’ wife, Allison Ross, his mother and his father, Doug Poor: the Purple Heart for wounds received in battle; the U.S. flag, folded and encased; the Gold Star Honorable Service Medal; and the Silver Star Honorable Service Medal.

The final presentation made to each was a Maine state flag, which had been flown over the Blaine House, the governor’s executive mansion.

“In honor and remembrance of Staff Sgt. Eric Ross who died while serving his country in Iraq on Feb. 9, 2007,” Choate concluded.

After Cox delivered the final message and prayer, the room fell silent as the military honor guard stood at attention and led the way for Ross’ flag-draped coffin to be rolled out of the gymnasium.

A lengthy procession of vehicles formed to go on to the burial at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

Along the way, firefighters from Veazie and Orono used ladder trucks to form an arch on the Kelly Road with the U.S. flag strung high above the road. Firefighters stood nearby at attention as the procession passed.

“It’s so symbolic to the fire service as well as the armed services of that flag flying,” Orono firefighter Kevin Sirois said. “There’s a reason why they fight for our freedom and they fight for that flag and that’s why we wanted to honor him today. It was our chance to honor him, but we were also honoring everyone else who has fallen.”