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Father, Former Marine Stands Guard At Elementary School
News Channel 5 ^ | Dec 18, 2012 6:19 PM EST | News Channel 5

Posted on 12/19/2012 4:58:37 AM PST by TSgt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School, one local father and former Marine is standing guard at his children's school and parents said he's a welcome addition to the school.

Jordan Pritchard, a former Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, pulled down his old Marine Corps uniform from the attic Sunday night and decided to make a difference in his community. When he was in the military his job was to keep our country safe and for the next week he planned bring that safety home by standing guard outside the front door of Gower Elementary School.

He said it's his responsibility.

"I'm doing this because we need hope man. We need hope," explained Pritchard.

He's a volunteer. He's not getting paid. He's not even armed, but parent said they feel a whole lot better about leaving their children at school while he's been at the front door.

The shooting massacre in Newtown, Connecticut was a thousand miles away, but what happened there hits too close to home.

Pritchard said it's his duty, and parents are appreciative.

"If you are able and capable of doing something you have the responsibility to act," he said.

Sarah Knies has 2nd and 3rd graders who attend Gower Elementary School. She said she was comforted knowing Pritchard was there.

"He made me feel good. Just to know that he stood up and did something to make us all feel better today," she explained.

Many parents, staff and students stopped by to thank Pritchard.

"When parents come up to me and they're crying and thanking me for being out here," Pritchard said. "There's no job in the world that can pay me enough money to not do things for the kids and the parents."

Pritchard also has children who attend Gower Elementary School: a daughter, Valerie, in second grade and a son, Colby, in first grade. He insists his actions have not just been about them. He said he feels is about something much bigger.

"We have to live this life for other people. That's the only way that happiness and true peace and hope will come back to our nation is when we all come back together and love each other," he said.

Sergeant Pritchard plans to stand guard at the school until Wednesday, when Metro Schools finish for the year.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
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To: Thorliveshere
“...I don't know if it's been mentioned, but one thing is for sure, the jihadis are watching and learning from the Sandy Hook tragedy.

I've been wondering the exact same thing lately....”

It would be a mistake to take this action, but who said they were smart.
Look at the targets 911.

41 posted on 12/19/2012 6:36:42 AM PST by kimtom (USA ; Freedom was not Free)
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To: ICE-FLYER

Armed security need not equate to a police state. Why not just have parents with handgun permits volunteer to sit around and drink coffee and b.s. in the teacher’s lounge all day? I think there are plenty of grandfathers who’d love nothing better and there’s a fair number of parents who could do their work on a laptop in the school once in awhile. (It will never happen because liberals are a bunch of pantywaists and are incapable of adopting real solutions.)


42 posted on 12/19/2012 6:54:28 AM PST by Stingray51
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To: Delta 21

Or go in the back door where there are fewer adults.


43 posted on 12/19/2012 6:55:06 AM PST by bgill (We've passed the point of no return. Welcome to Al Amerika.)
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To: spetznaz
first question that should be bouncing about in my mind is how do I really know he is not armed?

He's on school property. It's against the law to carry on school property. The answer is, he's not armed.

44 posted on 12/19/2012 7:02:15 AM PST by bgill (We've passed the point of no return. Welcome to Al Amerika.)
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To: TSgt

I find this to be emblematic. A Marine, fully trained, fully capable of defending our children, unarmed because of stupid pc sensibilities.

And yet, this is an American who is willing to put himself between the enemy and our posterity.

To be clear, I find his presence there to be completely admirable and appropriate.

The oath to support our Constitution never expires. A document whose supreme stated purpose is to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to Posterity.”


45 posted on 12/19/2012 7:25:19 AM PST by EternalVigilance (Socialism: Where your health care is free, but you are not.)
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To: soycd
I am not clear on how an unarmed person can deter someone with a weapon determined to kill as many people as possible

A fair point, but these kooks are looking for a soft target. Just someone paying attention, is often a deterrent.

And, would you be willing to bet your life on the fact that he's unarmed?

46 posted on 12/19/2012 7:44:23 AM PST by wbill
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To: Flick Lives

I certainly wouldn’t want to be the a-hole who pulls out a weapon, hoping the Marine is unarmed.

Taquia — it’s not just for Muslims anymore.


47 posted on 12/19/2012 9:09:57 AM PST by getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL (Impeach the Liar.)
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To: IDontLikeToPayTaxes

And you can tell us how much of a nonhacker you are, doggie.


48 posted on 12/19/2012 10:03:48 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro can't pass E-verify)
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To: M Kehoe; rcrngroup

My point was unless the Jihadists believe that attacking a school in the US would achieve a political goal, they won’t risk it.

They’re not stupid, just evil....

Yes, there was Belsan, but they paid a huge price for that attack and it was a setback not a success for them.

Measure what they do in political terms and the jihadist intent becomes very clear.

Islam is a political/social movement cloaked in religion....


49 posted on 12/19/2012 3:26:17 PM PST by nevergore ("It could be that the purpose of my life is simply to serve as a warning to others.")
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