MONMOUTH BEACH – While William Hurley, now a rising senior at MAST, started studying and quarantining at home due to the coronavirus restrictions in April, he decided to carve wooden American flags.
He decided to sell his “Hero Flags,” made from sterling spruce, as he and give a portion of the proceeds to two charities that are important to him: the Steven Siller Tunnels to Towers Foundation and the Travis Manion Foundation.
From left, William Hurley with the Moran family of Rumson and the Hero Flag he carved for them.
William posted his flags on social media and the response has been overwhelming. He has had over 80 orders and each day they continue to come in. He has shipped them to Massachusetts, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
William’s love of the military began when he started high school at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology and was inspired by its active NJROTC program. This spring he was chosen as the unit’s Battalion Commander, an honor he was humbled to receive.
William will be applying to the United States Naval Academy, the United States Military Academy, Marine Corps and Army ROTC. His ultimate goal as he says, “is to become an officer so he can lead others in service to his country.”
William can be reached at William12hurley@outlook.com.
The article originally appeared in the July 30 – August 5, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
