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Show Rollins eulogized as hero 'who died for his country' Cory Piatt, Jeff's childhood friend, read an open letter he had written in Jeffs memory. "In our family there are children from five different countries," Piatt said. "They have not enjoyed the freedoms we enjoy. It's your sacrifice that will bring their countries coun-tries this freedom. Thank you for serving this country. It's people like you who made it possible for us to enjoy our youth.' Piatt read from a poem speaking of the tears mothers and fathers shed at the death of a son, and how they, as parents of a soldier, can be comforted. "For him that died for his country, glory for endless years," he read. Piatt also read from a letter written by Jeff's 19-year-old sister Julie. "Please take care of Grandma and Grandpa, and when I get there you can take care of me like you have done for the last 19 years,' ' the lettere said. Piatt closed his remarks by telling tell-ing the congregation, "Jeff gave his todays for our tomorrows. ' SEE ROLLINS ONA-3 By JUDY JENSEN AssL Managing Editor WEST BOUNTIFUL "War is hell," the father of Army Sgt. Jeffrey Alan Rollins said tearfully during funeral services Friday for the second Bountiful soldier to die in Operation Desert Storm. "We promised him we would be , there to see him jump when he came home." Rollins' mother, II-eene, II-eene, said as she spoke of "all the dreams," that would never be realized real-ized by her son, .Rollins, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, was killed in a truck rollover in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 14. The 23-year-old Viewmont High School graduate was the second se-cond Davis County man to die in Operation Desert Storm. Marine Lance Cpl. Dion Stephenson, a graduate of Woods Cross High School, was killed during a desert battle on Jan. 29. "War is hell, but Jeff had to go to preserve our peace. That's what it's all about," said his father, Robert. "I'm proud of my son for being a soldier. He was a hero." The elder Rollins, and Jeff's wife, Shiela, and his four children and other family members followed slowly behind the flag draped coffin led by an Army Honor Guard during dur-ing the services. The pianist played "I Am A Child Of God" as the overflow crowd of mourners took their seats in the West Bountiful 8th Ward LDS Chapel. Scores of American Flags lined the walkway outside. The crowd was dotted with military and community com-munity dignitaries, and hundreds of friends and family members. i ' ' Funeral services were held Friday for Sgt. Jeffrey Alan Rollins in West Bountiful. He will be buried in Milford today. X on it described Jeff," said Mr. Rollins. The plaque read in part, "In recognition... for his great heart and love of his fellow man." The Jazz presented the family with a signed team ball and will dedicate their next home game to Jeff. Funeral services ended with a tribute written by a fellow member of the All American Parachute Team, Craig Smith, being read by Robert Barnes. "Once you have tasted flight, you walk with your eyes turned skyward, for it is mere that you long to return. Jeff has returned re-turned there for the final time. Blue skies my friend." Jeff was to be buried with full fa military honors at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Milford City cemetery. Rollins CONTINUED FROM A-l A former bishop and close personal per-sonal friend, Richard Judd, said he too was "someone who didn't write a letter and wanted to when we couldn't anymore." He too read from a letter addressed to Jeff. "Jeff is a hero. He protected us in this great quest against evil," said Judd. He remembered Jeff as a young man who "never gave up. I saw the goodness in the heart of this young man. It's hard to imagine him marching in the sands of a distant dis-tant land," he said. Judd praised Jeff's family and his wife for their bravery in this challenge and assured them that "Jeff is in a happier place than we." Members of the crowd wept openly as a piano medley of patriotic songs including "I'm proud pro-ud to be an American," was played. Pianist, Kenneth Nielson, wiped a tear from his eye as he played "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." "This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life," began Jeff's close friend Dave Kremer. "I've never lost anyone close to me before," he said. Kremer recalled the days he and Jeff had spent playing basketball. "My only hope is that there is a basketball court in Heaven," he said. He added the two of them had worn out "hundreds of pairs of tennis shoes, several basketballs and a few rain gutters, but we loved it. ' ' Kremer praised Jeff for his ability abil-ity to show his love to his friends and family. "I knew he loved me and his family. He wasn't afraid to show it," he said. Each of the speakers remembered Jeff's love for basketball. It was this love that sparked his friendship with Utah Jazz forward Thurl Bailey. Jeff met "T" as his family calls him, when he was in high school. "He was Jeff's hero. He kept him in school when he was having trouble. He would listen to T when he wouldn't listen to me," said Jeff's father. Bailey was unable to attend the funeral services, but he presented the family with a plaque in a private meeting on Wednesday. "He gave us the plaque he received which honored him as one of "Utah's Quiet Pioneers. He said the words |