Students Remember Boy Scout, 12, Killed In DWI Crash

RIVERHEAD, NY — It was a sea of red Wednesday as students at Pulaski Street Elementary School in the Riverhead Central School District paid tribute to Shoreham-Wading River Boy Scout Andrew McMorris by wearing red to school and celebrating his life.

McMorris was killed last year by a drunk driver who was recently found guilty on all counts.

The "Andrew’s Day" memorial was led by several Pulaski Street students who were all Boy Scouts with McMorris. Among them was fifth grader Liam Sherman, who brought the idea to his teacher, Stacy Hubbard, the district said.

In planning for the memorial, Sherman wrote a speech about his friend’s hopes, dreams and accomplishments, which he read to his peers over the school’s PA system on Jan. 13.

Sherman, along with his classmates, also made red ribbons for all students in the school to wear and placed red ribbons in and around the school in memory of McMorris.

The school plans to continue to honor McMorris’ memory by donating to the Andrew Rocks fund, which raises money for causes in Andrew’s name. Funding will be provided through the school’s Tuesday Positive Shirt Day initiative, in which staff and students offer donations in exchange for wearing shirts with positive messages.

Andrew McMorris, 12, loved aviation — and today, the many whose hearts were broken by his loss are keeping his memory alive in a beautiful way: "Andrew Rocks!" is a Facebook page dedicated to sharing stories and photos of colorful rocks, painted with words including "Fly High, Andrew," that are lovingly hidden in spots both local and in the many places across the world where he'd dreamt of traveling.

"When we were told The Boy Scouts were going to remember Andrew and put red ribbons all around the school, it really made us smile," Andrew's mother Alisa McMorris said Thursday. "Remembering Andrew and spreading what we like to call '#The Andrew Effect' is exactly what we had hoped for. Liam Sherman did a wonderful job, along with all the other Scouts. It made us so proud to know them and could not thank them enough for spreading the message of responsibility, honor, courage and kindness."

Looking ahead, the McMorris family will keep their beloved son's memory alive through the Andrew McMorris Foundation. Andrew's parents have created The Andrew McMorris Foundation, helping to raise awareness about drunk driving and focusing on Andrew's other passions, including Scouts, arts, theater, music and aviation — and, most importantly, "his compassion and kindness for others," his mother said. The organization was unveiled on March 30, Andrew's birthday, last year, the same day his family took a moving Honor Flight to celebrate his life at Mid Island Air.

After their son's tragic death, his family released a statement reflecting their deep heartbreak: "Andrew McMorris was no ordinary boy. Andrew was born with a sense of wonder and amazement of the world around him, and he never lost the ability to be awed by and delighted with all it had to offer."

This year, on March 28, the Suffolk County Boy Scout Council will be hosting a "Run To the Lodge" fundraiser, theAndrew McMorris Memorial Walkathon & 5K to raise funds to complete the McMorris Lodge at Baiting Hollow Scout Camp.

To sign up for the walk or donate, click here.