Christopher's sister Katie; mother, Janet; brother, Timothy (behind Janet); Katie's twin Meghan; and Christopher's father, Tim yesterday. Newsday Photo / Julia Gaines
By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher
jennifer.kelleh@newsday.com
Whenever Janet Scherer gazes down Madsen Lane, she can picture her four children playing there years ago, chasing soccer balls and riding bicycles.
Now, those memories officially reside on Cpl. Christopher G. Scherer Way, renamed yesterday in honor of her son, who was killed on July 21 when he was shot by a sniper in Iraq.
“It was a magical place of endless hockey and soccer games. More bicycles than one could count,” Scherer said as she stood before more than 100 people attending the re-naming ceremony on the idyllic tree-lined street.
Moments later, she looked up at a pole bearing the street name for Madsen Lane with a covered sign above it. She watched as her surviving children tugged on a string and pulled off a paper sheath, revealing a new white-and-green sign accented with an American flag and spelling out the 21-year-old Marine’s name.
“There are mixed feelings among people during a ceremony like this,” Tim Scherer, Christopher’s father, told the crowd, which included local elected officials, judges, mothers of other slain soldiers and members of Boy Scout Troop 52, of which Christopher had been a member.
Tim Scherer said sadness can be combined with a sense of celebration for his son’s life and gratitude toward those in the armed services.
Those varied feelings were punctuated with the solemn moan of bagpipes and chuckles as his father recounted Christopher’s sense of humor — best during times of stress — and the way he could mimic characters from television shows and movies.
Tim Scherer reminded his listeners, who stood for more than an hour in the cold, that no matter the temperature, there are soldiers who are fighting in worse conditions.
Afterward, everyone headed down Cpl. Christopher G. Scherer Way toward the blue house with maroon trim where he grew up. Tents were set up in front of the house, and hot dogs, chips and hot chocolate were served.
A band played. Friends sold $25 T-shirts designed for Christopher using the Guinness logo of his favorite beer. Proceeds will go to scholarships for high schoolers who exemplify loyalty and to a local fund, “Leave No Marine Behind,” that provides socks and other personal items requested by members of Christopher’s unit.
Matthew Adams, 21, who was friends with Christopher since they met in kindergarten at Pulaski Road Elementary School, said he envisioned his friend looking down at the festivities and calling the day “brilliant,” a word he often used.
The music stopped briefly as Tim Scherer, with the help of some Boy Scouts, raised the flag that has flown in front of the house since Christopher went off to boot camp.
With word of his death, the flag was lowered to half-staff and had been there since. Yesterday, it was hoisted to its full height.