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Soldier’s death spurs community to action

By JOHN THOMPSON
jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com

Coweta County residents took a deep breath this week after one its sons died in Iraq.

Specialist Michael Stokely, 23, the son of Solicitor Robert Stokely, died earlier this week while he was on foot patrol, near Yusifuiayuh, about 20 miles south of Baghdad.

The news sent shock waves through the community and the Coweta County Commission ordered the flags at half-mast Tuesday to honor Stokely’s ultimate sacrifice.

As word of Stokely’s death spread through the community this week, one woman decided to amp up the support of the troops stationed overseas. Linda Bridges-Kee, who serves as Newnan’s director of business development for Main Street, sent out an emotional plea by email this week.

“As an army brat, the daughter of a 36-year retired colonel, now deceased, the military is a way of life and an attitude that awards all of us the freedom that we enjoy every day.  I do not get on soap boxes very often but the news of Mike Stokely has devastated this office,” she wrote.

She said she was touched by a statement from Robert Stokely shortly after he learned of his son’s death. Stokely said the family would endure and he urged everyone to pray for the soldiers and families.

In response, Bridges-Kee is asking the business community to give more support to the Support Our Soldiers (SOS) program.

The program provides a system of support for soldiers and their families. Main Street Newnan asks each downtown merchant to place a container in the store for people to drop off items that are desperately needed by the soldiers, including:

• DVDs.
• Videos.
• CDs.
• Sunglasses.
• Protein bars.
• Flashlights (metal with batteries).
• AA and AAA batteries.
• Fly strips.
• Baby wipes.
• Anti-bacterial lotion/wipes.
• Skin moisturizer.
• Disposable cameras.
• Magazines (especially about Coweta County and Georgia).
• Books.
• Chewing gum.
• Individually wrapped pieces of hard candy, peanuts, and pecans.
• Tooth brushes, tooth paste and floss.
• Blank greeting cards.
• Crackers, fruit snacks, beef jerky.
• Deodorant, bar soap, shaving cream, Q-tips, Chapstick, foot powder.
• Band Aids, combs, Neosporin, eye drops.
• Socks.
• Personal letters.

Bridges-Key said the program should not be confused with politics.

“Soldiers (SOS) program is not a political statement. Rather, it is a community banding together to support the men and women that have been placed on the front lines to defend our country and this community’s freedom.”