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Lt. Todd J. Bryant was a 2002 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.  As part of his education experience at West Point, Todd volunteered to spend a portion of his summer leave participating in Service America, a program that places cadets with AmeriCorps programs whose members address many of the critical education, public safety, environmental and human needs in communities across the country.  Service America had its beginnings in Washington State with the first cadets being placed in the state during the summer of 1998.  Cadets share their leadership, organizational, and technical skills as they serve side by side with many peers their age, addressing critical needs of our country in national civilian service.

Todd was placed at West Hills Elementary School in Bremerton, Washington and served at West Hills in the summer of 2001.  He was a strong role model for students he tutored, many of whom live in the nearby public housing project.  Todd quickly became known not only as a fun person to be with, but also a person who knew the importance of reading and the application of reading to all subject areas.  He had a special gift to make connections with a diverse group of children regardless of their background or reading level.  He read stories, but also had time to listen to the personal stories of children who often times faced major challenges in their young lives just to have their basic needs met on a daily basis. 

Upon his return home that summer, Todd shared with his mother that he thought he could be a teacher after he finished his military responsibilities based on the experience he had at West Hills during the summer.  In his short time at West Hills, Todd exhibited the qualities of a good teacher and would have been a welcome addition to the teaching ranks at any school in the nation. 

 A week before he deployed to Iraq, Todd married Jenifer Reardon in Pittston, PA.  Jenifer was beginning her career as a high school science teacher near their new home at Ft. Riley, KS.  Sadly, on October 31, 2003, Todd was killed in Iraq as his humvee hit a roadside mine.  Although he was only 23 years of age, Todd had made his mark in just a few short years and exemplified the fine qualities that many take a lifetime to find -- service to the community and to our country. 

 To recognize the unique gifts that Todd shared while serving needy students during his national civilian service experience, the Lt. Todd J. Bryant Memorial Fund is being established at the Bremerton Schools Foundation.  The purpose of the fund is to purchase books and reading material for the library at West Hills Elementary and to enable children whose families are of very limited means to acquire books to read to siblings at home and to extended family members.  This living memorial will enable Todd’s service to others to continue as additional children learn the joy and importance of reading.  They will also learn the value of service to others exemplified by their friend Todd Bryant whose contributions will live forever in the lives of the children he tutored and others who will receive their first book as a result of Todd’s service to our country.

 The Bremerton Schools  Foundation is a fully registered foundation and contributions are tax-exempt.  Donations to the Foundation in Todd’s name can be made as follows; 

The Lt. Todd J. Bryant Memorial Fund
c/o Bremerton Schools  Foundation
134 N. Marion Avenue
Bremerton, WA 98312

Checks can be made payable to the Bremerton Schools Foundation
with a notation on the check that the contribution is for 
the Lt. Todd J. Bryant Memorial Fund.

Last Updated:  6/01/04
Webmaster:  Larry