Lacey School District Rallies Behind 2010 Grad in Afghanistan

Marine Lance Corporal Kevin Sheehy has been stationed in Afghanistan since summer, but the town where he grew up has not forgotten him or the people he is serving with. The Lacey Township School District has launched an all-out effort to ensure the 2010 high school graduate knows he’s got their support.

“Our schools are always willing to help the military, especially when they are graduates,” said Dr. Vanessa Clark, Interim School Superintendent. “It’s important to show them they’re not forgotten and have our full support.”

Kevin’s mother, Susan Sheehy, said she contacted the school district to see if they would help and received a call right back from then-superintendent Richard Starodub.

“He said, ‘Mrs. Sheehy, we’re going to do this,’” said Sheehy.

What resulted was an effort that included a letter-writing campaign by the elementary schools. Sheehy said she went to Forked River Elementary School on October 25 to pick up their letters, which she sent to her 20-year-old son and his platoon. The other elementary schools will take turns over the next couple of months writing batches of letters.

The middle school and high school are collecting items the Marines have found they need. These items include black socks, wipes, hand sanitizers, letter-writing materials, hot drink mixes, ramen noodles, peanut butter, jelly, pop-open canned foods, canned soups, and goodies.

In the high school, Sheehy said two girls are even organizing a contest between the grades to see who can collect the most items.

Kevin Sheehy graduated from Lacey Township High School in 2010. His mother said he decided to join the military when he was 10 and never changed his mind. He left for boot camp on July 25, 2010 and now serves in the infantry on the front line in Afghanistan.

“He seems to be much more grown up now,” said Mrs. Sheehy. “He’s a different person.”

Sheehy said their main contact with Kevin has been through Facebook.

“I’m absolutely worried about him -- there are nights there is no sleep,” said Sheehy. “If I see a post on Facebook, at least I know he’s okay.”

Not just the school district is showing its support of Kevin. Kevin’s father is a retired Lakewood Township police officer and his former co-workers just donated boxes of supplies for Kevin’s platoon. Local businesses also have made donations and the family’s neighbors have tied yellow ribbons outside their homes for Kevin.

“I’m overwhelmed in a good way,” said Mrs. Sheehy. “It just goes to show there’s good out there. It’s doing wonder for him. He thinks it’s awesome.”

When she told her son that a local newspaper had written an article about Lacey’s support for him, she said he told her, “I’m diggin’ it.”

Kevin is slated to come home in February and, when he does, his mother said he wants to meet the Lacey Township students who have helped boost his morale all these months.

“Some of the kids asked in their letters to meet him,” said Mrs. Sheehy. “We want to set up a day for him to go to the schools to meet the kids.”

Anyone is welcome to get involved and support Kevin and his platoon. They can call Susan Sheehy at (609) 548-5322.