RHINELANDER - As friends and family remember Sergeant Ryan Adams of the 951st, something immediately comes to everyone's mind.

"His smile, when he walked in the room, the way people just gravitated toward him, because of the type of person he was," says his Uncle Patrick Adams.

He had a great smile," says Father John Gerritts.

"My favorite thing about the kid was his smile," says close friend, Josh Howard.

Sergeant Adams' smile was one of the many memories those close to him shared during the funeral ceremony at Rhinelander High School. Father John Gerritts lead the ceremony and spoke about Ryan's willingness to always lend a helping hand, "Helping out. It was great, because he was strong and so if you needed Christmas trees lifted or something, he could do that."

Family, friends and community members packed into the school auditorium to say good bye to Ryan. The soldier's friends say the ceremony spoke volumes about him.

"It was fantastic. It was honorable and unbelieveable I thought and I thought it was a great representation of Ryan, just the numbers around really showed you how much of an impact he made on a lot of different people," says Howard.

After the ceremony the 26-year-old soldier was laid to rest at Northland Memorial Park, with full military regalia. His mother was given an American flag, to symbolize his heroism. His family says Ryan is a true hero.

"I think that word gets overused at times and if ever there was an appropriate place for it, Ryan is our hero," says his Uncle Patrick.

Friends and family say their hero will live forever in their hearts and minds.

"I know it's just going to be nice to know down, through this week, next week, years and years and years, there's going to be a new memory surfacing here and there and it's just going to bring a smile to our faces," says Howard.

And those close to Sergeant Ryan Adams say they have a feeling he's going to be flashing that famous smile right back at them.

"Ryan has got to be, without question, looking down with a smile on his face, knowing the number of people he's affected and how many people are truly proud of what a hero he is," says his Uncle Patrick.

Sergeant Ryan Adams' Uncle Patrick Adams says the entire family is grateful for the support from the community.

He says Ryan's parents and sister also want to remind the community to keep the soldiers who are still working overseas in their hearts and minds as well.