Tribute to Fallen Marine Stretches Across Long Island

Sometimes round numbers – though kind of arbitrary – can be the best kind.

And last Monday, on the fifth anniversary of Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter's passing – not necessarily more or less worth remembering than the fourth was, or the sixth or seventh will be – Long Islanders some 80-plus miles away now know about the ultimate sacrifice he gave thanks to a special tribute from his mom, JoAnn Lyles.

Armed with 19 balloons representing each year her son lived, some waterproof baggies, short biographies and photos of Haerter, Lyles took to a handful of places special to her son and released the packages off into the air, one of which was found by strangers on the beaches of Bayville, N.Y.

Though the word "stranger" can sometimes be relative: John Taylor and Patty Anglin, who found the balloons, found instant connections between the gold star mother and themselves. Their children were born in the same year. Their neighbor's son is currently a Midshipman in Annapolis, and they plan on sending the contents of the package down to him to be shared with his comrades. Lyles noted they even share a Facebook friend.

"Thank you for sharing the important story about your son in such a miraculous way," the couple wrote. "Words cannot begin to express the debt that we all owe him."

Just three weeks after being sent to Iraq, Haerter died on April 22, 2008, while shooting a suicide bomber who ignored warning shots and drove onto a base in Ramadi. The 2,000 pounds of explosives on the truck detonated, killing him and Marine Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale, of Burkesville, Va. Their quick decision saved 33 fellow Marines, one of whom Haerter pushed out of harm's way, and 21 Iraqi police.

Lyles was inspired to let off the balloons after hearing that the family of a fallen Marine remembered their son in such a way on the first anniversary of his death.

"I don't know why I did it this year," she said. "Fives and zeros always seem important in terms of birthdays and celebrations."

She, her sister, brother and Haerter's old girlfriend all went out together over the course of a couple days and released the balloons from several spots in a process Lyles recalled as cathartic. "It felt good for us too. It made for a fun day."

They released the packages from the bridge named after Haerter in Sag Harbor, his home, the airport, Haven's Beach, a favorite four-wheeling location of Haerter's, Long Wharf, and by his grave.

For now, Lyles is wondering if she'll receive any other responses to the packages, but noted that she received a follow up email from the Bayville couple about the package on Friday, part of which read: "To say its contents were powerful and touching is an understatement."