Post Falls school sends care packages to sailors, Marines in memory of former school resource officer

POST FALLS — Packs of gum, hand-signed valentines, candy bars, goofy glasses and warm socks.

Just enough to make a sailor smile and stave off homesickness for a while.

“We’re trying to give them perseverance and let them know we’re here for them,” said Greensferry Elementary fifth-grader Finley Carpenter.

Thirty-five boxes — “Packages from Pete” — were filled with an assortment of items and sent with love from Greensferry Elementary on Friday, headed to sailors and Marines aboard the USS Bataan in memory of former Post Falls School District Resource Officer Pete Marion, who died in 2014. Marion’s son, Mick, is currently deployed on the USS Bataan in the Middle East.

Greensferry partnered with the Post Falls Police Department and Cabela’s, where Pete worked as the events coordinator before his death, to collect items from students as well as the whole Post Falls community. Pete retired from the PFPD in 2007.

“Some of Pete’s family members from New York actually shipped some things in,” said Principal Kathy Baker.

Even the late, great former Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin, who was friends with Pete, made a contribution.

“One of his final wishes was to make sure his family donated to this package drive,” Baker said. “Sure enough, a couple days after he died, his daughter brought in some donations.”

Many of the students and their family members wrote letters and notes of encouragement to cheer up the sailors and Marines, who are missing their homes and families while out at sea.

“They might feel a little lonely, so writing those letters lets them know that we care about them,” said fifth-grader Ashlyn DeGuzman. “It’ll make them feel happy.”

A parade of fifth-graders helped Baker move the boxes from the school office to a truck for delivery to the post office. Haldon Thompson made several trips to help out.

“It’s just nice helping other people,” he said. “They’re going to feel thankful that we gave them something. They might not have much.”

Baker said she was incredibly thankful to the PFPD and Chief Pat Knight, who came through with last-minute funds to help cover a portion of the $700 shipping fee.

She said Greensferry always has a heart for veterans and active-duty military.

“Teaching our kids to honor our nation’s veterans is one of the most important things we do here,” she said. “The Veterans Day assembly is a big deal for us every year to teach our kids and to simultaneously honor our area veterans. It’s been a tradition here to really support our veterans.”