Despite the agony of their loss, the family of Army Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow has found comfort in the outpouring of support from the community.
That support included a $5,775 check from the faculty and pupils of Evans Middle School, where Staff Sgt. DeCrow's daughter, Kylah, is a seventh-grader. School officials presented the check to the family Friday morning.
"I'm just overwhelmed," said Staff Sgt. DeCrow's widow, Marikay, after the presentation. "I'm just so grateful to everyone who has been there to help us."
Staff Sgt. DeCrow died along with 12 others during the Nov. 5 shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas.
To help Mrs. DeCrow and her daughter, Kylah's teachers and classmates solicited donations from staffers, pupils and the community. The amount raised was about five times more than the school had intended.
"I've just been amazed by this community," said Evans Middle Principal Mike Johnson. "With times as tough as they are and with the holidays approaching, we were expecting to get $500 or $1,000."
More than half of the donations were from the efforts of Ronnie Michaels, the manager of the Taylor Auto Group Used Car dealership.
Michaels, whose son Blake is an eighth-grader at Evans Middle, raised $3,525.
"If you can't help out the kids, who can you help?" Michaels said.
Donations will continue to be accepted in Kylah's name and should be sent to 2508 Grier Circle, Evans, GA 30809.
The funds will be used to further Kylah's education, Mrs. DeCrow said.
Kylah, who went back to school Monday, has taken the loss of her father as well as can be expected, her mother said.
"I don't think it has really hit her yet," Mrs. DeCrow said. "Everywhere she goes her father is so honored. She's been hearing so many wonderful things about Justin, I don't think she's had time to process what's happened."
After attending numerous memorial services and recently burying her husband near their hometown of Plymouth, Ind., Mrs. DeCrow said she, too, has had little time to grieve.
"It's been very hard," she said. "How does anyone ever cope with something like this?"
Photo by Jackie Ricciardi
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