U.S. Marine commends patriotism

Braden River Middle School students and staff members were greeted with a patriotic surprise recently when former Braden River student Jake Mullery, a U.S. Marine now stationed in California, stopped by the school to thank students for showing their support of the U.S. military.

Just before Christmas, students at Braden River had sent approximately 200 boxes filled with goodies — called HeroBoxes — to soldiers in four different units stationed in Afghanistan. Unbeknownst to the school, Mullery received one of those boxes while on a tour oversees.
Mullery, who was in town for two weeks on leave, stopped by Braden River to thank students personally for showing their support of the troops through the boxes and the letters contained within them. While at the school, Mullery also spoke with students in the class of his former teacher, David Barcena, and recorded an interview for the school’s morning news program.