By Natalie BazinetStaff Writer
LIMESTONE — Last Friday may as well have been “Ty Tracy” day in Limestone; graduating from the Limestone Community School early to join the Marines, the LCS faculty arranged a ceremony so full of emotion, respect and support that if someone were to say there was a dry eye in the audience, they’d probably be lying.
The first graduate of the Limestone Class of 2010, Ty Tracy received the Belva and Harry Morris Scholarship, the George and Clara Morris Scholarship, the Principal’s Award, the 2010 Varsity Baseball Coaches Award and varsity bars for his athletic endeavors, but none of those accomplishments could characterize Ty better than how he was treated by his peers, his elders and the kids of LCS.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Always looking out for their friend, Limestone seniors Nate Berube and Dylan Morgan presented graduate Ty Tracy with a few parting gifts … a cap gun for protection, green plastic army men for support and a mirror so that Ty can always watch his back while serving the country as a Marine.
Elementary students looked up to him as he walked down the hall, and not because of the height difference. Their little faces lit up when they saw him like they had just ran into Superman and they found any excuse to talk with Ty whether it was wishing him well, seeking a high-five or telling him an anecdote about their own military ambitions.
The first to leave the very close-knit senior class, Ty’s classmates seemed to carry sorrow normally reserved for saying goodbye to close loved ones and family, and the LCS staff and faculty followed suit.
It seemed that anyone who knew Ty — or anyone that even knew of Ty, for that matter — displayed supportive tears, shakey smiles of concern and encouragement, and such strong pride in the young man that calling Ty Tracy “Limestone’s Sweetheart” wouldn’t be much of an exaggeration.
Marine recruitor SSgt. Will Powell attended the graduation, commenting on the difficult journey that lays before Ty and assuring those who gathered for the graduation that Ty was going to make a great Marine, but it seemed that everyone already knew that Ty was going to excel at whatever he chose to do.
“Ty is a very special young man — he’s a leader, he’s a role model, he has a very good work ethic and an outstanding personality, and he’s going to do some great things,” said Assistant Principal Larry Worcester. “When I think that Ty is going to be protecting our country, I feel pretty good about that.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Presenting Ty Tracy with his diploma were LCS Principal Leland Caron and Assistant Principal Larry Worcester.
