Local soldier remembered

Guy-Perkins High School Principal David Westenhover remembers one of the happiest times in Private Nathan Thacker life.

"When he was adopted," Westenhover said. "That really made him happy. That was a big deal for Nathan."

Thacker, who was serving as an infantryman in the 2nd Battalion based out of Fort Drum, N.Y., was killed Friday by a roadside bomb near Kirkuk, Iraq.

Although Thacker has been gone from Guy-Perkins for a year, the principal still has fond memories.

"He was just a good kid," Westenhover said. "He was really conscientious."

Westenhover describes a young man that did his best, but also did everything with a smile.

"He was a bit of clown," Westenhover said, "But only in a good way."

Many of Thacker's friends have graduated, but some of the younger students were also friends with him. Westenhover said that counselors have been made available to students that need someone to talk to. "The students are just really handling it well," Westenhover said. "But we do have the counselors available for anyone that needs them."

The Guy-Perkins school district has honored Thacker's memory on the district Web site and on the school sign that faces the heavily traveled Highway 25.