Youth Program Honors Exeter Navy SEAL

The mother of a Navy SEAL who died on a rescue mission in Afghanistan is organizing a youth program to honor her son.

"Healy's Heroes" will teach local children about kindness and courage, said Natalie Healy.

"Those seem to be the traits of most of the fallen heroes," she said.

Her son, Daniel, was killed in 2005 in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan. He was one of 16 soldiers aboard a MH-47D Chinook helicopter that was dispatched to rescue a four-man Navy SEAL team under fire. The helicopter was shot down, killing all 16 men aboard. One of the four Navy SEALs—Marcus Luttrell—survived.

Healy left behind a wife and seven children.

His mother was motivated to start the program after children vandalized the memorial for her son at the town pool. Friends and family recently raised money to replace it. Healy said some of the leftover funds will be used for the Healy's Heroes program.

"We wanted to turn this into a positive thing," she said.

In addition to teaching children about kindness and respect, the program will include a jump rope component. Natalie said her son valued physical fitness.

Children who participate in the program will receive a certificate, T-shirt, medal, and be entered into a contest to win a bicycle.

For more information, e-mail info@healysheroes.com or click on www.healysheroes.com.

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• Exeter Navy SEAL's Memorial Fixed
• Fund Set Up to Repair Damaged Memorial
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• Daniel Healy Memorial Vandalized