Names in the News: Thomas Sarwark Remembered

A Burr Ridge resident and former army officer is being remembered on the Internet. Thomas Michael Sarwark, 21, was .

Sarwark was . Two years before attending ISU, he served with the United States Army's Company F, 2nd Battallion, 19th Infantry, 198th Infantry Brigade. You can see a brief video interview of Sarwark on the army's website. His rank was Private First Class.

Sarwark was a graduate of . Friend and fellow South alum Alex "Bucky" Buckridge posted this memorial on his personal blog May 5, "Tom, you are my best friend and (without one of my own) the closest thing that I will ever have to a brother ... I'll miss you like crazy, man ..."

Visitation for Sarwark was held on May 8 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Adolf Funeral Home in Willowbrook. Family and friends gathered for a memorial service on May 9 at Christ Church of Oak Brook.

Those wishing to send memorials in honor of Thomas Sarwark are asked to send them to the  Heroes First Foundation, 6720 Best Friend Rd., Norcross, GA 30071 or www.heroesfirstfoundation.org.