BETHALTO - Karly Schley of Wood River, a previous Zion Lutheran School in Bethalto graduate, is now serving in the U.S Coast Guard based in Washington, D.C.
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Schley is one of only 13 women in her group of 100 recruits for the U.S. Coast Guard in 2017. She stood guard during the funeral of President George H.W. Bush in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. She credits Zion Lutheran School education for helping her get through boot camp.
Seaman Schley was a student at Zion Lutheran School in Bethalto from Preschool until graduating from Grade 8. “My memory work as a Zion student helped me tremendously in boot camp,” she said. “As a recruit, I had a lot to memorize and had to recite on command at any time. That was easy for me.”
Her teachers were also important to her during her time at Zion. “Mrs. Amanda Densmore, my fifth-grade teacher at Zion, is a big influence on my life,” she added. “She’s a very good teacher, and always made learning interesting and kept my attention.
“In the Coast Guard, I serve alongside people of many different faiths and in places with different faith traditions,” Seaman Schley said. “My Christian foundation that developed at Zion Lutheran School will always anchor me.”
Seaman Schley’s recent assignments include:
- Standing guard during the funeral of President George H.W. Bush in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol
- Sleeping in a tent on the beach at Normandy, France, before the 75th anniversary observance of the World War II event
- Marching in the Fourth of July Parade on the streets of our nation’s capital
- Serving at the 9/11 observance at the Pentagon with Vice President Michael Pence
- Participating in Honor Flights for veterans to visit the World War II memorial in D.C.
- Plus assignments in California, Alabama, New York’s Staten Island, and Canada
“My Zion friends are my friends for life,” she adds. “I wouldn’t trade my Zion educational experience for any other.”
For more information or to register your student in Preschool or Grades Kindergarten through 8 at Zion Lutheran School Bethalto, go to http://zlsbethalto.org. Contact Zion Lutheran School directly at 618-377-5507 or schooloffice@zlsbethalto.org
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