lance corporal o brien sacrificed his life in 2011 conducting combat operations in afghanistan. he graduated from east gaston high school in 2008 and joined the marines. he loved baseball and offered scholarships to continue playing but decided to serve his country instead. joey, i m sure it s an honor to ride for him this weekend. it absolutely is. you think about what nascar is doing throughout this weekend and everyone says the memorial day weekend is such a big racing weekend and i always go that s not what it is about. it s about honoring the men and women that have fought for our freedom in this amazing country and we need to appreciate that. a great way is honoring fallen soldiers. giving the families the experience and meet them and know them. that sacrifice is unreal. i don t think anyone can explain what it s like. i can t imagine leaving my family for more than three days.
Senior Spotlight: Jacob Mullen, East Gaston High
Jacob Mullen will graduate from East Gaston High School on Friday, May 28 as a member of the Beta Club, National Honors Society and National Art Honor Societies. Mullen spent all four of his high school years running cross-country and track at the school. He’s also an accomplished student artist.
Who has been your greatest influence and why?
MULLEN: My math teacher Mr. Michael Kaufman and my art teacher Mr. Justin Allison. Both of them have been excellent teachers and have made me want to pursue aspects of these subjects in my college career.
East Gaston High junior Aaron Hollar plays a musical instrument nicknamed the tenor tuba. Across town, 17-year-old Ashbrook student Amarah Kendrick s commitment to dance has landed her lead roles, such as Clara in the holiday classic The Nutcracker.
These two bright Gaston County students plan to spend their summer at North Carolina s Governor s School, the oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted and talented students in the United States.
Seventeen Gaston County high school students have an opportunity to attend the prestigious Governor’s School of North Carolina this summer, offering them a glimpse at college and the chance of meeting other high-achieving young people from across the state.
By EDWARD MARTIN SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
With what felt like a grizzly in his chest, Jim Benfield’s legs buckled, and he crashed onto his living room floor. A Mount Holly policeman who had helped first responders break down doors to rescue ailing 911 callers, he frantically fumbled with his cellphone.
“Dummy me, why didn’t I call the ambulance?” he shrugs. “I knew I was dying, and all I could think was that I wanted to speak to my wife one more time.”
As he stepped out of the shower, a clot blocked the left anterior descending artery of Benfield’s heart, triggering paroxysms of pain that he compares to the claws of an angry bear.