Methuen Life June 2010

The family of a fallen Methuen-raised Marine is teaming up to "adopt" the military unit of another solider with city ties.

Eric Currie was killed by enemy fire Feb. 17 in Afghanistan.  Working with the Methuen-based New England Caring for Our Military, the Currier family is holding a care-package drive through July 12.  Collected items will be sent to the Army 172nd Mounted Infantry Division, based out of Manchester, N.H., and currently serving in Afghanistan.  One member of that unit is 26-year-old Kyle Desroches, the son of Diane and Tom Curtis.  Tom is a 22 year veteran of the Methuen Fire Department.  Kyle was deployed in early March.

"This drive is being done in memory of Eric," said NECFOM founder Jim Wareing.  It's one family doing a drive for another family."

Care-package items can be dropped off at any Methuen fire station or at the Methuen Senior Activity Center on Lowell Street.  The care packages will be assembled July 12 from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Senior Center.

As NECFOM has already collected an abundance of hygiene-related items, acceptable donations include hard candy, gum, beef jerky, granola bars, powdered drink mixes,single-serving cereal boxes, nuts and sunflower seeds, and letters of support.