Vassar -- Christopher Esckelson died in Iraq nearly five years ago.
Now, the death of Osama Bin Laden brings back a lot of emotion for the marine's family.
"At first, I thought they were joking," says Michelle Hill, mother of Christopher Esckelson.
The news was surreal for her and hard to believe that the mastermind off 9-11 was dead.
"I'm happy that we finally got him, but sad because what everyone had to go through."
Michelle knows very well the pain of losing a loved one. Her son was just three days away from his 23rd birthday. He was killed in a firefight in Iraq December of 2006.
"For the first year, I think I cried every single day, and I didn't know you could cry that much."
Michelle says she still has bad days, but she gets through them with her faith.
"That's what keeps me going. We will see him again."
Esckelson played all the major sports at Vassar.
He was a 4.0 student at Delta with the goal of becoming a doctor.
"He always strived to do his best at everything."
It's his efforts that Michelle and the rest of the country celebrate, knowing the United States took down the most wanted man in the world.
A gold star still hangs in Michelle's window honoring her son who gave his life for the freedom of others.
The same week Esckelson paid the ultimate price, six other servicemen with Michigan ties also died in Iraq.
