St. Joseph’s student Cassey Krueger to be honored at assembly

Published 4:37 pm Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Fourteen-year-old Cassey Krueger of St. Joseph’s school in Snoqualmie has responded to a call to serve the nation’s troops.

Cassey worked with Branches of Valor, a support group for soldiers and their families, at a benefit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Pierce County.

Recently, Men of Valor’s National Director, Joshua Renschler, made a radio appearance on the Ron and Don show KIRO radio, talking about the outreach program.  Renschler talked about ways to end an epidemic of mental health related issues, such as suicides, divorce, and substance abuse, among soldiers. He related that even simples act such as baking cookies and attaching a note on them expressing love and honor can drastically affect solders’ lives.

Cassey and his mother, Nan, were listening to this interview in the car, and Cassey decided he could do something. He presented his idea to bake cookies for the soldiers to his religion class at St. Joseph’s.

Upon his class’s enthusiastic approval, Cassey contacted Renschler in an e-mail asking if he could deliver the cookies the cookies to the base. Through a contact at Ft Lewis’ Wounded Warrior unit, the Men of Valor set up a table in the main lobby.

Cassey put smiles on many uniformed faces throughout the day as he handed out hundreds of cookies and Valentines. A U.S. Army Ranger took Cassey on a driving tour of the base, and Cassey was awarded many honors with soldiers giving him their unit patches right off their uniform. Two Army Rangers awarded Casey with their Ranger Tab (a high honor).

“Cassey is a great example to us all in his courage and demonstration of leadership,” said Michelle Nunley, Senior Executive Assistant for Men of Valor International. “This humble young man had no experience with military personnel, living an hour away from the nearest base. He is young in life experience, and yet it was he who accepted our call to action in showing community support for our heroes.”

Several soldiers and the Men of Valor team will be making a presentation to Cassey, his class and his teacher during an assembly at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, in recognition of his leadership skills and the example of selfless giving that he and his classmates set.

“There is no doubt that Cassey touched many lives that day,” Nunley said.