MARYSVILLE – Before Rome can conquer Greece, he had to make one last stop in his hometown.
Marysville’s Jarred Rome was back in town Friday, two weeks before the start of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
Mayor Dennis Kendall was among a small group who gathered at City Hall to give him a ceremonial send-off. Kendall read a proclamation during a five-minute ceremony before about a dozen people.
“Anytime you can celebrate someone who grew up in your community and is a hero, that’s great for the city,” Kendall said. “It’s a great opportunity.”
“It’s great to know Marysville is behind what I’m doing,” Rome said afterward. “That feels really good to be able to come back and feel the support of the people in my hometown.”
Rome will be in town through Monday, when he leaves for Europe. The discus thrower will take part in track and field events in Munich, Zurich and Crete before heading to Athens for the Summer Games.
Rome, 27, recently won the U.S. Olympic Trials with a throw of 215 feet, 9 inches. He is expected to challenge for a medal in Athens.
“I’m ready to go,” Rome said. “Everything is coming together.”
Among the people in attendance Friday were Rome’s sister and his neighbors. Rome’s 30-year-old sister, Monica, took in the scene with awe.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “I couldn’t even imagine all this for my little brother. He’s still my little brother, even though he’s 315 pounds. We used to beat him up when he was small.
“People we don’t even know have been calling and e-mailing. He was just a guy from Marysville, then all of a sudden he’s an Olympian and everyone wants to meet him,” she said. “That’s just odd to me.”
Paula and Joel Bennette, who live next door to the Rome family, were also on hand to honor one of their own. The Bennettes put up banners throughout the neighborhood wishing Jarred Rome good luck.
“We’re really proud of him – not just because he’s from the neighborhood, but because Marysville needs a hero right now,” Paula Bennette said. “We’ve had a lot of bad news, and we need some good news. How often does a sleepy little community like this get to send off one of their own to the Olympics?”
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