A Hero’s Welcome For Airman Sean Kelley

By Larissa Lytwyn

As Sean Kelley approached the double doors of Sandy Hook Elementary School recently, an adoring throng of students instantly encompassed him.

As more and more students arrived for school, the numbers surrounding Mr Kelley increased. Soon, only his head was visible above the swell. Students thrust notebooks, scrap paper, and any other feasible surface for Mr Kelley to autograph.

Who is Mr Kelley?

A famous television or movie star?

No. Mr Kelley was being honored for simply serving his country.

At 21, he is halfway through a four-year contract with the United States Air Force.

“I’m an Airman 1st Class,” he said. “After graduating from Newtown High School in 2001, a lot of my friends were going straight to college. I wasn’t sure if college was for me, so I decided to join the US Air Force instead.”

The Air Force appealed to him the most for several reasons.

“I knew I didn’t want to be right on the frontlines like the marines or kept on a boat for months at a time like in the Navy,” he said. “The Air Force was just a good fit for me.”

Airman Kelley detailed his experiences with Sandy Hook Elementary School students during a special visit on June 8 declared “Sean Kelley Day.” To celebrate, students and faculty alike were encouraged to don red, white, and blue clothing and accessories.

Airman Kelley is an alumnus of Sandy Hook Elementary School. His best friend’s mother, Lynn Monahan, is a teacher at the school.

During his deployment, her class sent his division letters of encouragement and supplies, including Sandy Hook Elementary School sweatshirts, canned foods, toiletries, and other items.

Ms Monahan also orchestrated his June 8 visit.

After arriving, Airman Kelley led students in the Pledge of Allegiance as well as a moment of silence for all the soldiers currently serving abroad.

He spent the next few hours visiting classes to answer questions and read them books on patriotism and American history, including The American Flag by Lloyd G. Douglas.

Stationed in England, Airman Kelley recently returned for a two-week respite in the United States after a five-month deployment in Iraq. He returned to his base in England on June 10, where he will continue serving until 2006. His future duties could bring him anywhere, including back to Iraq.

“Iraq was basically everything I expected it to be,” he said. “It was very hot and very dirty. If it rained, everything turned to mud very quickly. You would be caked in it!”

Not making the experience any easier was the strict three-minute shower rule.

“When I got home [to the United States] the first thing I did was take a 45-minute shower,” he said wryly. “In Iraq, you never feel clean.”

Upon each visit to classes in grades one through four, Airman Kelley answered questions from students about his experiences in Iraq. He also thanked students for sending his division their letters of encouragement and supplies.

Each day, running from 5 am to approximately 6 or 7 pm, Airman Kelley largely spent his time unloading cargo and transporting it to other camps in his division. “The cargo would contain supplies ranging from food to weapons,” he said.

Airman Kelley spent his limited free time exercising, writing and reading letters from friends and family, and resting, since sleep was often limited. When asked to name his favorite thing about serving in Iraq, the soldier remained quiet. He laughed a bit sheepishly.

 “None of it was really fun,” put in Ms Monahan. “It was all a lot of hard work. He has done a lot to serve us, to keep us safe.”

Ms Monahan described Airman Kelley as a “very kind young man” whose already two-year period in the Air Force has visibly helped him “grow and mature.”

“It was really fun to meet him,” said first grader Bailey Smith. “I was really excited!”

Megan Milano agreed. “I couldn’t believe the three-minute showers!” she cried.

“I am happy that he could come home, even for a little while,” added another first grader, Meggie Korchman.

At the end of the visit, Airman Kelley wrote a note addressed to the entire Sandy Hook Elementary School community that thanked them for hosting him.

Photocopies were made and distributed throughout the school.

“I never realized how big an event this would be,” he wrote. “I felt like a celebrity today! This day will live on in my memory forever. Thanks again from the bottom of my heart. God Bless.”