On the Friday morning before Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Army Maj. Dan Keenaghan thought he was going to a small meet and greet at Evans Elementary School.
Instead, he was the one who was met and greeted in rock-star-like fashion in the school’s parking lot by the entire student body, school faculty, police and emergency services, elected officials, veterans, biker groups, Evesham residents, friends, family and more.
Keenaghan was escorted to Evans in the sidecar of a motorcycle with veterans and motorcycle groups riding along side, and when he arrived, a large crowd waving American flags and welcome home signs greeted him with chants of “welcome home” and patriotic songs playing on the speakers.
The day’s event was planned and made possible by Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey, the volunteer group focused on supporting troops through care packages and welcoming events.
Keenaghan said the event was both awesome and humbling.
“What an incredible welcome home from a community that brings out all different parts of service as well as sacrifice,” Keenaghan said. “Truly, truly awesome to be escorted around by the motorcycle group of veterans with the police, having the firemen and the EMTs here, having the school officials, the elected officials, as well as friends, family and most importantly the students. Not only students who had heard about me, but the students who had written to me and whom I had written to while I was gone.”
Keenaghan’s wife’s cousin, Cheryl Naurath, teaches at Evans, and last year, while serving in Afghanistan, Keenaghan corresponded with students through emails and letters to teach them about what war is like beyond fighting and battles and the nature of the United States’ mission in Afghanistan.
Naurath said she couldn’t have asked for a better day for Keenaghan and the students who touched each other’s lives to finally meet and understand the impact they had on one another. She said the students learned much about the war in Afghanistan and the world because of Keenaghan.
“We took it from what did they think war was, and you know of course as most kids they said fighting and shooting and guns, and they soon learned it wasn’t only that,” Naurath said. “The soldiers are trying to educate other countries and provide services to them of protection and learning how to use crops and their lands successfully to cultivate, and they’d go ‘wow.’ They were excited to go ‘what do you mean they’re helping girls get school, girls get an education?’ They were like ‘what do mean boys and girls can’t go together and girls don’t get an education?’ and I was like no.”
Also at the event were 8th Legislative District Assemblyman Christopher J. Brown and Assemblywoman Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, both of Evesham, to present Keenaghan with a proclamation.
Brown said the event was one of the times as an elected official he could really demonstrate what veterans and their service means to the community.
“I’m just so proud,” Brown said. “I could read this proclamation, there’s so many wonderful things that the major has done: he’s a graduate of West Point, a graduate of Seton Hall, he served in Afghanistan, he worked with the White House on policy initiatives for defense. The man is amazing, he represents everything I hope my sons grow up to be, and I want to thank you from my heart. Thank you so much for what you do.”
Keenaghan, who lives with his wife and young sons in Washington, D.C., develops policy recommendations for the federal government’s efforts to improve financial management.
With a bachelor’s of science in engineering management from West Point, a master’s of arts in diplomacy and international relations and a master’s of science in international business from Seton Hall University, Keenaghan has 15 years of experience in command in combat and civil military operations, international trade promotion, and development of White House policy initiatives.
Keenaghan’s wife, Anne, said the support her husband gets is amazing, and she was happy to be a part of the event where so many people could step back and thank not only her husband but also veterans and soldiers everywhere.
“It just gives me such a greater appreciation for what my husband does and all of his service men and women,” Keenaghan said. “I never really see it as much on a day-to-day basis, but when you get so many people together that are so supportive and such emotion, it’s overwhelming. It was really a fantastic event.”
