Appalachian State University student Kaleb Rierson, 22, died Friday in Cameron in a car accident.
Rierson was visiting his home for a 20th anniversary commemoration ceremony at Fort Bragg honoring those who died in 1993 when two helicopters were shot down in Mogadishu, Somalia. Vice Chancellor for Student Development Cindy Wallace said one of the fallen being honored was Rierson’s father.
Dean of students J.J. Brown spoke with Rierson’s family and said his family remembers him as a “die hard Appalachian fan.”
“He liked his friends loyal, his opponents pinned, his lakes blue, his mountains tall, his bourbon straight, his Steelers strong, his country free, his family close and his mother any way she pleased,” according to his obituary in the Fayetteville Observer.
Visitation will be hosted at Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and his funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Fort Bragg’s JFK Chapel, according to an email from the Office of Student Development.
If students wish to attend, they will need to check in as visitors to Fort Bragg, according to the email.
A book will be placed in Plemmons Student Union for students and staff to write in.
“This book will be sent to Kaleb’s family as an expression of our care and concern for them,” according to the email.
In lieu of flowers, it has been requested that donations in Rierson’s name be made to the Special Operations Fund and condolences can be made online at bolesfuneralhome.com, according to the Fayetteville Observer.
Story: STEPHANIE SANSOUCY, News Editor