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WATERVILLE

Fallen soldier’s kin start institution

STAFF REPORT

WATERVILLE — Army Spc. Wade A. Slack, of Waterville, died May 6 while serving in Afghanistan. His family received word of his death that night.
By Saturday morning, family members would be boarding a plane to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where the 21-year-old’s remains would arrive.
Army policy is to pay for three plane tickets, but eight family members wanted to attend. As they scrambled to buy the tickets for all family members, they discovered that five tickets had already been purchased by two foundations — Military Friends Foundation and Fisher House Foundation — which support families of fallen soldiers.
“You can imagine the relief,” said Allison Slack, Wade’s sister. “We weren’t expecting anything like that. We thought it would be nice, for Wade, to give back like that.”
That’s why the family has now established the Wade Slack Foundation to support the families of fallen soldiers.
Last Friday, family and friends organized a tribute and concert in Slack’s memory at Waterville Senior High School, collecting about $500 in donations for the new foundation, according to Allison Slack.
A couple hundred people attended the evening event, which ran about an hour longer than planned, until 10:15 p.m., she said.
Allison Slack said she delivered a speech, as she was not able to do so at her brother’s funeral May 16.
“I spoke about how it was when he went away to the military and how my little brother turned into this man with strong convictions and was dedicated to his family and country,” Allison Slack said. “I know he’s gone home and is there waiting for us.”
Wade Slack, a 2007 graduate of Waterville Senior High School, specialized in disarming explosives.
He died from mortar fire wounds after his Army unit was attacked by insurgents.
The event last Friday was organized with the assistance of Doghouse Studios in Augusta, where Allison Slack works in production. It featured local deejay celebrity Steve Galley of Augusta and music by DW Gill, Richie Bartolo and Jason Greene.
Studio owner JR Garritt said the event went well and that “big hearts and good times made it all happen.”
Allison Slack said donations can be made to the Wade Slack Foundation, which is set up as an account with the Maine State Credit Union and will be administered by the Slack family. Donations may be sent to Wade Slack Foundation, 2748 B Riverside Drive, Vassalboro, ME 04989.