U.S.M.C. Sgt. Elisha Parker, 06/25/84 - 05/04/06

This guy was one of the best. I didn't know him that well, but every time I talked to him, I felt accepted. He would listen, he always had something nice to say, and he had a good head on his shoulders from what I could tell. It is incredibly sad that he died, and I wish his family the best and they are in my prayers. I can only imagine how many lives Eli touched, home and abroad. He is and will be sorely missed.

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Camden Marine killed in Iraq
Flags were lowered to half-staff today as mourning residents of this small, proud, patriotic community shared tears and memories of a lost son. Marine Corps Sgt. Elisha Parker, 2002 graduate of Camden High School, was killed Thursday during active duty in Iraq. He died in Fallujah when an Improvised Explosive Device was detonated, people close to the Parker family said. Parker was trained to clear mines. Parker is the fourth member of the U.S. military from Oneida County to die in Iraq since the war began on March 19, 2003. There was grief in the classes and corridors at Camden Central, too. School officials plan to reach out to the family and the community to help ease the tragic loss, Superintendent Rocco J. Longo said. "Our entire community is saddened by the loss of a fine young man," Longo said. "Eli was an outstanding student involved in many activities at our high school. He was well respected by his peers and our staff." Those who had Parker as a student remembered his spirit and willingness to respond to any great challenges. Patty Kimball, Parker's former 11th and 12th-grade English teacher, recalled Parker as a very bright student who could have attended any college. But instead, Parker felt a strong need to serve his country, she said. "He was a person of conviction and he had a strong will," Kimball said. "Joining the Marines was something he wanted to do, and we respected his decision. He had a sense of moral obligation and that was very admirable." As the teacher recalled special memories of the fallen Marine, she remembered a favorite hero of Parker's. "When I asked the class who their heroes were, Eli always said he loved Spider Man," Kimball recalled. "I bought a poster of Spider Man purposely to put up on my wall and that became his symbol." Track coach Steve Campbell remembered Parker as a boy who always wore shorts for practice, no matter how cold it was. The coach laughed as he recalled Parker shaving his head senior year so he could be more "aerodynamic." "He enjoyed competition and pushing himself to the limit," Campbell said. "He could have done anything with his life - he was a 90-average student - but he chose to serve his country instead. He was an amazing person to do what he did." Former school counselor Carl Goodwill said he was with Parker's family Thursday night after receiving news of Eli's death. The young Leatherneck leaves behind his father Renny, mother Donna, sister Briana and brothers Isaiah and Andrew. Goodwill said Marines who are alumni of Camden Central told him that arrangements would be made soon to have Parker's body flown to either Syracuse or Rochester. Parker was a combat engineer who specialized in explosives, he said. "He was recognized for his bravery by his commanding officer" who spoke to the family Thursday, Goodwill said. Goodwill remembered his former student as a long-distance runner and member of the Nordic ski team who was admired by his peers. He said it was the tragic events of Sept. 11 that provoked a personal need for Parker to serve his country. "Eli was looked up to by the younger kids, and he was a very nurturing individual," he said while trying to hold back his tears. Jeffrey Bryant, principal of Camden High School, said Eli followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Marines because "that's who he was." "Eli possessed a deep patriotic sense for his country," Bryant said. "This is a significant loss. "Eli was also the founder of the Bike Rack Club, a non-official organization that required students to walk across the bicycle rack at school to become members, said friend Molly Kimball. Kimball was two years younger than Eli. "He was the most genuine kind of guy you'd ever want to meet," Kimball said of her friend. "The Bike Rack Club - that's Eli's kind of humor. It's terrible we're not going to see his face or hear him talk again." Al Gilsenan, a member of the LZ Old Marine Corp League, and Mayor Cristen Harlander said plans to honor Parker were in the preliminary stages. LaRobardiere Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Trooper James Simpson, spokesman for State Police Troop D, said members of Troop D will escort the body of the soldier; he did not yet know details. Over the next couple of days the focus of the school district will be on supporting the Parker family and students, Superintendent Longo said. "The Camden community is a very close community and I'm confident they will reach out and put a safety net around the family and the people who were close to Eli," he said. Counselors and a Crisis Intervention Team have been placed at the high school. Counseling will be available throughout the day and will be extended into next week and as long as needed.