What do you do to honor a son killed in Iraq? Robert Stokely set up a foundation to send school supplies to children in the village where his son Mike was killed by a roadside bomb in 2005.
Students and teachers had looks of joy — and bewilderment — as soldiers handed out school supplies and toys at the Mullah Fayad School in Yusifiyah, Iraq, March 27.
Children grinned ear-to-ear as they looked over the treasure. When teachers asked who had sent the truckload of goods, they were surprised by the answer. Everything had been donated in the name of Sgt. Michael Stokely, who was killed Aug. 16, 2005 in Mullah Fayad.
Stokely, from Sharpsburg, Ga., served with the 48th Georgia National Guard. After his death, his father began the Mike Stokely Foundation.
In addition to the supplies, the schools received a donation from the family and community of Sgt. Nathan Barnes of the 10th Mountain Division, who also died in the area.
“(Stokely’s) dad is just a tremendous individual. He knew how much his son loved the children in the area that he worked with because his son always sent home pictures of him with kids,” (Capt. Michael) Starz said. “He thought a lasting tribute to his son would be to do something for the children of the area. That’s just remarkable.”
Here is more information on the foundation.
Beautiful.
Might be we have more Iraqis happy with the US military than the US public, the latter having been shielded from such stories.
thank you for featuring my “boy”, Mike and honoring him with this post. He was a great son and a great man. He loved America. He loved his family. But most of all, he loved God.
proud dad SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
USA E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG