P'burg
child a real trouper
Boy helping out Marines in Iraq.
Monday, December 13, 2004 • By LINDA LISANTI •
The Express-Times
PHILLIPSBURG -- As soon as Jeffrey Maury arrives home
from school each day, he runs to the mailbox and then to the
computer.
What this 9-year-old boy is looking for are letters from
his pen pal, U.S. Marine Jesus Perez.
Since April, Maury, a fourth-grader at the Green Street
School, and Perez, of Elizabeth, N.J., have been keeping in
touch through letters, cards and e-mails.
They've become fast friends.
"You've become special to me 'cause you're in this with
me everyday with your letters and the cards you send me all
the time," Perez wrote in his latest Dec. 7 e-mail. " I
thank you a whole bunch, my brother."
Maury and Perez met at a karate tournament this spring.
Maury, a junior black belt, was competing; Perez was there
as a flag bearer.
With the help of his grandmother, Maury struck up a
conversation with Perez, who told them that he was on his
way to Iraq and gave them his address to write.
Now Maury writes to his pen pal every day. The two swap
cards and share pictures. Maury also sends packages to
Perez, who shares the goods with other Marines.
Perez says he is thankful.
"You are a true patriot at such a young age. I think
that's awesome 'cause not everybody is at any age these
days," he wrote to the boy.
Since April, Maury and his family have sent six
packages, but they want to send many more.
This month, Maury and his mother, Melissa, set up drop
boxes at various locations in the area to collect goods to
mail to Perez.
The drop boxes are at the Alpha, Phillipsburg and
Bloomsbury post offices, the Phillipsburg municipal
building, ShopRite in Clinton and Greenwich townships and at
Bloomsbury Annunciation Church.
On each box is a list of the items Perez said he and his
troops need.
The mother-son duo also set up coin jars at the
Phillipsburg Floral Co., Cycle Funattic and Main Street Deli
to raise money for postage.
Melissa Maury said her son is very patriotic. After the
terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he sold red, white and
blue wreath pins, which he made, in Shappell Park. The $500
he raised went to disabled veterans.
Melissa Maury said it's exciting for her now to watch
her son help the troops and his new friend.
"We want to see a good amount of things donated so
they'll say 'wow' and see we care," she said.
Jeffrey Maury said he just "wants to make them feel
happy."
Maury's grandmother, Linda Stanton of Phillipsburg, said
she is very proud of her grandson.
"I don't know of any other 9-year-old who would do this.
They think about video games and TV, but not Jeffrey," she
said.
Reporter Linda Lisanti can be reached at 610-258-7171 or
by e-mail at llisanti@express-times.com.
© 2004 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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