Three days after 19-year-old Army Private Madaras was killed in Iraq, those closest to him gathered to talk about the brave soldier they knew as boyfriend and brother.

When he wasn?t training for the Army, Nick could have been found playing or coaching soccer at a Wilton field. Wednesday, his longtime girlfriend, Ellen de Moll and his best friend Tom Thresher went back to that field, looking to each other for support and to share memories of their loved one.

Best friends on both the soccer field and in the Army, Thresher recalls Madaras as his brother, in every sense of the word. He says he will continue with his military goals because he knows that?s what Nick would have wanted.

Tears fell as Nick?s girlfriend relived the memory of their first date, over a year a half ago. She spoke of Nick as a thoughtful and caring boyfriend. Ellen says she spoke to Nick the night before he was killed and was able to tell him that she loved him.

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