(Estherville)—Area residents are being asked to pay their respect along the funeral procession route of local fallen soldier.
27-year-old Staff Sergeant Steven Blass of Estherville died March 11th in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. As we reported previously, his funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. this coming Tuesday at the Estherville-Lincoln Central High School gym. Visitation will be held at that same location Monday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. with an awards presentation immediately following.
Anne Miller, Dickinson County Veteran’s Affairs Commissioner, is urging Dickinson county residents to take some time out Tuesday to pay their respects in a special way…(click here for comment.) “After the funeral the procession will be going down Highway 9 and then turning onto N-14 in Dickinson county and then A-34 into Milford and south onto Highway 71 to Spencer. I’m thinking it would be a real tribute to a hero for residents of Dickinson county to be along that route. I’m assuming the funeral would probably be over around 3:00 or so, and if we could have residents of Dickinson county along N-14 and A-34 and into Milford and Highway 71 possibly waving flags or just standing to show the support and respect for a true hero. It would be such a tribute and it would speak volumes about how our residents of Dickinson county feel about veterans and particularly someone who paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Miller says it’s her understanding there was a special reason as to why that route was selected…(click here for comment.) “I was told that apparently there’s a farm along the route that either he resided at at one time, that it’s something special to the family to take that particular route.”
Staff Sergeant Blass was a helicopter crew chief with the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade. He had been in the army since 2006 and was on his second combat deployment.
People who knew Blass say he was loving, respectful and funny. He’s survived by his wife, Tricia, and 16-month-old son, Hayden.
Staff Sergeant Blass will be laid to rest at Northlawn Cemetery in Spencer.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Staff Sergeant Steve Blass Memorial Fund at the Employees Credit Union, 2714 Central Avenue in Estherville.
