GREENFIELD — A local teenager who organized a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony to honor the 13 service members killed in an attack in Afghanistan is hoping to mail out mementos from Greenfield as a sign of support and hope.
Scott Baldwin, 13, pleasantly surprised his family and teammates when he came up with a solemn ceremony Sept. 11 just before the Greenfield Central Junior High football game. Now, he wants to send photos, flags and letters of encouragement to the families of those who lost their lives in the airport bombing in Kabul.
“He’s got a huge heart and always around Sept. 11 he takes the time to stop and think about everyone who lost their lives that day,” said his mom, Nora Baldwin. “When he found out about the 13 soldiers who lost their lives, it bothered him a lot. It really did.”
When he realized the game would be held on the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Scott brainstormed with his best friend Parker Cupp and came up with a plan to use flags, empty chairs and photographs to remember the 13 service members who were killed Aug. 26 as they worked to evacuate thousands of people amid the Taliban takeover.
Within just a matter of days, the boys and their parents were able to gain school approval, round up portraits of the 13 and flags to display on 13 empty chairs at the junior high football field. As the song “Have You Forgotten?” by Darryl Worley played, all members of the team walked in solemnity to place the flags on the chairs.
Nora said it was a touching memorial, especially to see what a group of seventh-graders could do. Several public safety officers came in support, as well as members of the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders.
A few days later, Scott, Parker and Jayden Hollenbaugh went to Logansport to see the parade before the funeral of Marine Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, who died in the attack.
Now that the local recognition is done, Nora Baldwin asked her son what he would like to do with all of the flags, photos and memorabilia.
His answer surprised her once again: He wants to package each photo, flag and a picture of the team and send it to every grieving family, alongside a letter of condolence.
“I think we should really do this to show the families that other people are thinking about the soldiers too, not just the families of them,” Scott said. “And that it wasn’t in vain, too.”
The Baldwins have set up a GoFundMe page in the hopes that the community will chip in to pay for the postage for the project, which could cost up to $400.
Parker Cupp said Scott, his best friend since kindergarten, has put a lot of thought and dedication into the project.
“I’m thankful that Scott allowed us to come and do that with him,” he said.
Nora hopes when the packages arrive in the mail to the families who lost their loved ones, it will let them know of a team of boys who care for their country.
“It’s not much, but (Scott) thought it was a small token of what he could do to honor these men and women,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud of him. I’m definitely proud to be his mom.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”How you can help” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Members of the Greenfield Central Junior High football team and parents have organized an online fundraiser to pay for postage to send condolence packages to families of the 13 service members who were killed in the attack at the Kabul, Afghanistan, airport on Aug. 26. To donate, visit https://gofund.me/6f4c0871
[sc:pullout-text-end]
