Townsquare Media and the Jay & Linda Grunin Foundation are teaming up to salute our local heroes with our Warrior of the Week program.

Congratulations to Larry Crippen from Toms River, our Warrior of the Week for the week of September 18th, 2017.

Mr. Crippen, a retired Marine, now spends his time as a Detention Officer at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center. According to his nominator, Mr. Crippen frequently applies his experiences while serving in a way that the students can relate to. Whether it's using math to break down a Marine's pay scale to teaching the importance of comradery, he impresses his life skills and values onto the youth that surrounds him.

Just listen to some of the things that the students have to say:

  • “Mr. Crippen is my role model. He told me a lot of good things about the Marines. I want to join the Marines.”

  • “Mr. Crippen is a great person. He helps me understand some things that I question. He is a role model and an idol and I am thankful for his service.”

  • “I am grateful for Mr. Crippen serving our country; it means a lot. He inspires a lot of people.”

  • “Mr. Crippen teaches us so many things about life.”

  • “Mr. Crippen is a role model and he risked his life for this country.”

The students that populate the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center may have started down a troubled path, but by all accounts, they are lucky to have a figure like Mr. Crippen to look up to. In an era that has so few local role models, he continues to proudly lead by example.

A hero who once served our country and now serves our community, we congratulate Larry Crippen, our Warrior of the Week.

Do you know a deserving past or present military member? Nominate them now. Every Military Monday, we’ll share one of the nominations and honor that person as our Warrior of the Week.

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