Crying UCA Students Honor Sgt. Strong's Parents

School Retires Jersey Of Marine Killed In Iraq

BY ROBIN SMITH Staff Writer
Thursday May 12, 2005 

NEWPORT CITY VERMONT
United Christian Academy on Wednesday morning retired the baseball jersey of the late Marine Sgt. 
Jesse Strong, who was killed in Iraq.

Students at the private Christian school wept openly as members of the UCA baseball team gave ball 
caps sporting No. 62 to Strong's parents, the Rev. Nathan and Vicki Strong of Albany.

The UCA flags hung at half-staff in Strong's honor.

A home-schooled student, Strong played baseball on the UCA team for a year. He later joined the 
Marines, serving from August 2004 until Jan. 26, 2005, when he died instantly at the age of 24 in 
an ambush near Baghdad. Hundreds attended Strong's funeral to celebrate his service to country and 
to his Christian faith.

"We consider him an official UCA student," UCA Headmaster Richard O'Hara told the gathered UCA 
students, faculty and community members.

Pastor Larry Czelusta of the Solid Rock Assembly of God Church in Barton said the school considered 
Sgt. Strong a friend and a son of the Christian faith.

"Do not honor Jesse just as a soldier, but as a brother in Christ," Pastor Czelusta said.

Faculty member Dave Strepka said those who knew him, like former headmaster and baseball coach Mike 
Witherspoon, said Sgt. Strong was the kind of person everyone would like to know.

He said Witherspoon called Strong "Mr. Hustle" for never letting the score of the game dim his 
enthusiasm and determination. Strong didn't like gossip or slander, according to Strepka, but he 
did like his dad's corny jokes.

He said Witherspoon recalled Strong as "the most godly man on the team," someone who "had a joyous 
appearance about him."

On behalf of the school, Strepka said Strong "would be pleased we acknowledge him not as a great 
player or soldier, but as a man of God. We are honored and privileged he was a part of UCA."

Strepka unveiled Strong's white baseball jersey, sporting his now retired No. 62 in navy blue, while 
the Strongs watched. Members of the current baseball team presented navy blue caps with 62 in white 
to Sgt. Strong's parents.

Students and faculty cried as Vicki Strong hugged the players. After she returned to her seat, she 
carefully touched the cap, running her fingers over the 62. A member of the Legion played taps, which 
echoed in the assembly hall of the school.

In closing, O'Hara recognized those parents whose UCA grads were pursuing careers in the military or 
were already serving in Iraq or the Middle East, but he led the gathering in a prayer for a different future:

"Pray men will beat their swords into plowshares and study war no more.