Team Jesse Honors SFC Cliff Beattie: Islanders Never Forget

SFC Beattie’s words in a letter left to be opened in the event of his death convey the objective of this event best of all.  He wrote, “I want people to know that I payed the ultimate price in a fight so that you, my wife, and my children could live in PEACE and without fear of another terrorist act against the United States.” A graduate of Medical Lake High School, Class of 1992, SFC Beattie left this world on May 22, 2011 when an IED was hit by the vehicle he was traveling in.  Also lost was PFC Ramon Mora Jr. of Ontario, CA.

SFC Beattie left behind a wife, Karen, of Ft. Sill, OK, who was also in Iraq at the time of his death.  SFC Beattie leaves behind two children, Jaydean, now 20, of Seattle, WA and Dale, now 17, of Yelm, WA with former wife Samantha; parents Victor and Rhonda Beattie of Medical Lake, WA; sisters, Misty Jones and husband Jerred of Spokane, WA; Anna, of Tampa, FL; Jamie Coon and husband Kenny of North Pole, AK; two nieces, Kora and Kami, also of North Pole, AK.  SFC Beattie was laid to rest at the Washington State Veterans’ Cemetery in Medical Lake, WA on June 4, 2011.  When SFC Beattie left his mother and father’s house in April of 2011 to return to Iraq from his 2-week R & R, his mother asked why he was going back.  He simply said, “I’m doing this for everyone I love.”

To contribute to Islanders Never Forget, the Mercer Island Lacrosse teams’ fundraising effort which will provide education grants to SFC Beattie’s children, Dale and Jaydean, please Donate Here