·        Nicholas George Xiarhos was the first child of Yarmouth Police Department Deputy Chief of Police Steven G. Xiarhos and Lisa Xiarhos and the beloved big brother of his siblings Alexander, Elizabeth, and Ashlynne Xiarhos of Yarmouth Port , Massachusetts . Nicholas attended Yarmouth schools and graduated from Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in 2006. His family, friends, teachers, and coaches remember him as a kind-hearted, selfless person who went out of his way to help others. He was affectionately nicknamed “The Mayor of DY” due to his outgoing personality and his ability to get along with everyone. In their senior year, his classmates presented him with the title “Does Most for Others.”

 

·        Nicholas had an enduring passion about serving his country and joining the military, which was heightened by the events of September 11, 2001. Nine days after graduating from high school, he entered the United States Marine Corps Boot Camp at Parris Island in South Carolina . On September 22, 2006, he earned the title of United States Marine. Nicholas served as a 0351 Infantry Assaultman with the 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment in Iraq and the 2nd Battalion 8th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

 

·        Nicholas died on the battlefield in the Garmsir District of Helmand Province in Southern Afghanistan on July 23, 2009 while going to the rescue of his fellow Marines in combat. Nicholas fought for the freedom of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan . He chose to make a difference in the world and was a true American Patriot. Two weeks prior to his death, his last words to his mother were, “Don’t worry about me Mom…I’m living the dream.”

 

His short life was not without purpose, and he fulfilled his dream.  

 

In just 3 years of service Corporal Xiarhos earned the following awards:

 

Meritorious Mast for Outstanding Performance

Good Conduct Medal

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

National Defense Medal

Naval Unit Citation

Iraqi Campaign Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Sea Deployment Ribbon

Combat Action Ribbon

The Purple Heart

Presidential Unit Citation

 

 

Shortly before Nick shipped out for battle in Afghanistan , Nick and many of his 1/9 Marines met President Obama at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, President Obama spoke of great sacrifices, stating in part, “Each of you has your own story.  And that story is now part of the history of the United States of America—a nation that exists only because free men and women have bled for it from the beaches of Normandy to the deserts of Anbar; from the mountains of Korea to the streets of Kandahar.  You teach us that the price of freedom is great. Your sacrifice should challenge all of us—every single American—to ask what we can do to be better citizens.”