PROMOTION CEREMONY HELD FOR LOCAL SOLDIER DURING TAMAQUA BASKETBALL GAME; SURPRISES SON; (VIDEO)

Tamaqua soldier Staff Sergeant (SSG) Amanda Kerr surprised her son Zeke Wassell during a Tamaqua Raider Junior Varsity Basketball game Thursday (February 5, 2015) evening against Pine Grove. After the game and prior to the start of the Varsity game, a military promotion ceremony was held for SSG Kerr at half-court. Zeke, a Sophomore, plays on the Tamaqua Junior Varsity team.
SSG Kerr has served in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. Last year, SSG missed a full season of her son’s basketball games due to her deployment overseas. Kerr’s parents, Ilona and the late Alan Kerr, who passed away in November, took care of Zeke while SSG Kerr was in Afghanistan. Kerr returned from Afghanistan in May. Prior the Thursday’s event, Zeke had never seen any of his mom’s promotion ceremonies.
During the ceremony, six fellow soldiers with the Army Reserve Center in Schuylkill Haven marched to half-court and stood at attention while Army Major Paul Muzopapa presented SSG Kerr with the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC). Her son Zeke and her mother Ilona Kerr stood aside Major Muzopapa during the ceremony. Taking part, Zeke replaced his mom’s rank patch and Ilona replaced her cap.
Immediately following the ceremony, game spectators and fans stood on their feet and burst into applause.
Tamaqua won the varsity game in overtime.

Kerr, who also played on Tamaqua baseball, softball, and wrestling teams, joined the Army reserves after graduating from Tamaqua Area High School in July of 1996. She currently serves as active duty staff at the Schuylkill Haven Army Reserve Engineering Unit, and plans to re-enlist one more time, giving her 22 years of service. Kerr also played softball for the Army and Marine Corps.
“This will be the last time I am promoted, ” said Kerr. “It was also the first time my son was able to see it.”
Click HERE to view a related correspondence letter from Kerr.
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