Township Anniversary Memorial for Fallen Marine Will Happen Only With Family Consent

Almost a year after a U.S. Marine from Manchester was killed while serving in Afghanistan, the discussed the possibility of holding a commemoration in his honor — but only with his family's consent. 

Cpl. Nicholas S. Ott, a 23-year-old from the township, died on Aug. 10, 2011, in Afghanistan's Helmand province. Ott died while "conducting combat operations" in the province, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

"Anything that this community is going to do is not going to be without the consent of the Ott family," council President Craig Wallis said Monday about the possibility of the township marking the anniversary of the corporal's death. "If they don't agree 100 percent, we're not doing it."

Ott, a 2006 graduate of , was part of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, of Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Ott earned multiple awards during his service, including two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

Almost a year later, the family is "just coming to the point" where they are starting to open up about the corporal's death, Wallis said. 

Councilmember Samuel Fusaro said that "some options were discussed," though he added that there is no timeframe for a memorial, should one be held.

Plans for services were discussed last summer, but officials held off to ensure that the family is able to do things on their terms. 

Last August, township Business Administrator Elena Zsoldos said that she reached out to the Ott family to offer support, and Mayor Michael Fressola expressed his sympathy through a letter sent to the corporal's parents. 

"We would love to put together a memorial and some type of service," Zsoldos said at the time, though she, too, said that the township will wait until the family is ready.