EGUSD Tribute to Justin Kramer

EGUSD Supervisor Jake Rambo pays tribute to One of Elk Grove's sons: Soldier, Hero, and now volunteer teacher Justin Kramer.

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The Full Story PLUS a special service of RadioElkGrove, below.

A Special Service of RadioElkGrove

When we started RadioElkGrove, we noticed that many of the resources that we needed were not readily available. This included the recordings from Elk Grove UnifiedSchool District Board Meetings, and the Meetings from the CosumnesCSD, which are the best record of what happens in our community meetings.

So rather than just use these things to create the program, we decided to make them available to the public. Through a special arrangement with The Internet Archive, RadioElkGrove now hosts all the recordings for those meetings, as well as links to the City of ElkGrove Council Meetings, and the City Planning Commission meetings.

You can find this resource by clicking the tab at the top of our home page called “Local Meetings”. You'll also find links to the agendas for each meeting there. You can also use the link included in today's posting. (Click Here.) Soon we hope to also give you access to the same board reports that guide our civic leaders.

Now today's story.

Tribute to Justin Kramer

What is a “hero”?

Webster says it's “The chief male character in (story), typically identified with good qualities. A person, typically a man, who is admired for courage or noble qualities.”

I like the definition of hero as someone who does what we can't do - or won't do – and inspires us to be better because of it.

Elk Grove Unified recently honored one such hero.

The most recent School District meeting opened with an item not found on the agenda, when President Chet Madison gave the floor to Supervisor Jake Rambo, the most recent addition to the board. Supervisor Rambo wished to pay tribute to one of Elk Grove's recently returning Military Veterans, Lance Corporal Justin Kramer.

The pride that we all feel was evident in Rambo's voice as he spoke – without notes - about the young man he's known since Kramer was a student. We want to share with you, the unedited remarks about one of our own.

Here's Supervisor Jacob Rambo:

Thank you Mr. President. Tonight we have with us a distinguished Elk Grove Unified graduate. Justin Kramer has attended Elk Grove schools his entire life. He was a graduate of Donner Elementary as well as Franklin High School in 2006. I'm proud to have him here tonight. In May of 2009 Justin Kramer wrote that ultimate check to the people of the United States, due and payable up his life, and joined the United States Marine Corps.

August 25th 2011, Lance Corporal Kramer deployed to Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. There he served to help build capacity in our Afghan partners helping to train Afghan police officers. Justin is a military policeman and a lot of folks view that as the old fashioned MP's keeping the ground secure, but in Afghanistan our military police are really the tip of the sword. They're the ones who are kicking in doors, rounding up insurgents, and dealing with some of the most dangerous conditions possible.

That was demonstrated, and that “check” was nearly cashed when on October 16^th of last year when Justin's vehicle was completely destroyed by an IED strike. Justin suffered a traumatic brain injury and concussion, for which he received one of our nations great honors, the purple heart.

Justin didn't come home. He continued to serve in Afghanistan, continued to serve our country.

He would continue to put himself in harms way when he would experience a true grace in stepping on an IED that fortunately did not detonate. So it is a true pleasure to welcome Lance Cpl. Kramer to our board meeting today.

His dedication to the school district didn't stop after he graduated. One of our district employees, Ms. (Brenda) Passmore from Cosumnes River Elementary is here. Her class set up a Skype connection and communicated with Justin while he was in Afghanistan and sent him letters. Demonstrating the true character of a Marine, Justin is home on leave, and no one would hold it against him if he truly enjoyed himself after some time in Afghanistan. Justin's joy - in addition to spending time with his family, who are with him here tonight – he's been going over to Cosumnes River Elementary and teaching Marine Corps PE.

As we proceed towards Memorial Day this month, it is truly a blessing that we will NOT be honoring you on Memorial Day, Justin, we'll wait 'till November and honor you on Veteran’s Day. But there have been so many young men and women from this school district who have sacrificed, including those who have given all, and we honor them in that way and we will this month.

Justin, it's an honor to call you a friend, it's a privilege to see you home and healthy, and you truly are an honor and a privilege to have as a servant of this country. You embody “Semper Fidelis”. You embody the best of this nation.

Thank you for your service.

We'd like to join the school board in honoring Lance Corporal Justin Kramer.