Published January 1, 2020

By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield Middle School seventh-grader Michael Murphy recently gave back to soldiers and veterans by undertaking a fundraiser in their honor.

The U.S. Army thanked Michael for the kindhearted initiative by honoring him at a recent grade-level assembly.

During Michael’s birthday party in October, he asked family and friends to bring donations for soldiers and veterans instead of giving him presents.

THE U.S. ARMY honored LMS seventh-grader Michael Murphy for conducting a fundraiser last fall during a grade-level assembly. The ceremony included, from left, Mike Murphy, Sgt. 1st Class Nick Haskell, Staff Sgt. Stephen Boggs, Michael Murphy, Sgt. 1st Class David Mathews, Sgt. 1st Class Nick Walters, Capt. Carrie Haag and Tricia Murphy. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

“I have everything I want and I don’t need anything else,” said Michael in an interview with the Villager. “I mostly collected snacks and personal hygiene products. I also collected a couple of games.”

After learning about Michael’s fundraiser, Sgt. 1st Class David Mathews, who is the Peabody Army Recruiting Station’s commander, reached out to Middle School Principal Stephen Ralston about the possibility of holding an assembly to honor Michael.

“When you typically see donations for care packages come in, it’s usually Toys for Tots and other adult-led donations,” said Mathews in an interview with the Villager, explaining that “it is only right” to recognize a child who spearheads such an initiative on his own.

LMS and U.S. Army officials decided to surprise Michael during the assembly. Educators told students the assembly would be about a different topic in order to make sure the surprise stayed a secret.

After seventh-graders gathered in the auditorium, Ralston recalled that LMS’ core values are kindness, effort and citizenship.

U.S. ARMY Sgt. 1st Class Nick Haskell gave LMS seventh-grader Michael Murphy a plaque in order to thank him for holding a fundraiser for soldiers and veterans. The Army recognized Michael during a grade-level assembly just before Christmas Vacation. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

“These are not only values we hold here, but it is our hope that you make these values part of your life beyond the walls of LMS,” said Ralston. “Kindness and effort are easy enough to understand, but citizenship is a little more complex. Citizenship means being a member of and supporting one’s community and country. Citizens often participate in local community events and projects dedicated to the common good.”

Ralston noted that, “Citizens of the United States are not free by accident.”

“Individuals have made and continue to make great sacrifices to protect our rights,” said Ralston.

Mathews attended the ceremony along with Sgt. 1st Class Nick Haskell, Staff Sgt. Stephen Boggs, Sgt. 1st Class Nick Walters and Capt. Carrie Haag. Mathews told the seventh-graders that Michael displayed kindness, effort and citizenship by going “above and beyond for the veteran community.”

“Michael had a birthday recently,” said Mathews. “Instead of asking family and friends to bring presents for his birthday, Michael, out of the kindness of his heart, put forth the extra effort to organize a donation drive to benefit soldiers and veterans. He organized the donation of snacks and personal hygiene products. It was around 10 boxes and over 200 pounds of goods. Those boxes will be individually boxed into care packages and shipped overseas to soldiers who are deployed as well as be given to veterans in need at the Bedford VA.”

Mathews said the donations were given to Operation Troop Support, which was founded by Danvers residents Dick and Christine Moody.

U.S. ARMY CAPT. Carrie Hagg presents Lynnfield Middle School seventh-grader Michael Murphy with a citation during a grade-level assembly recently. The Army recognized Michael after he conducted a fundraiser for soldiers and veterans last fall. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

“It has been in operation since 2003,” said Mathews. “When we spoke with them about a month ago, they have sent out just shy of a million care packages since 2003. They are expected to hit a million by April or May. All of the donations that the students and Michael collected will help Operation Troop Support ship over a million packages in the next six months.”

Mathews said Michael’s “display of citizenship is why we decided to come and recognize him in front of all of you today.” Haag presented Michael with a certificate of appreciation and Haskell presented Matthew with a plaque.

Additionally, Michael’s parents, Tricia and Michael, surprised their son by hiding in the middle school auditorium’s sound booth. Tricia told the Villager that they were incredibly proud of Michael.

“We just wanted him to do a kind act and never thought he would be recognized for this,” said Tricia. “We were pleasantly surprised that Michael was recognized for his fundraiser.”

After Haag and Haskell gave Michael the citation and plaque, the seventh-graders gave their classmate a round of applause. The U.S. Army officials also posed for pictures with a number of students after the ceremony concluded.

Michael said it felt good being recognized by the U.S. Army.