Published: August 19, 2008 09:07 am         

Covington sends off Guard member Sunday

COVINGTON— Kevin Everley is going to Iraq in a few months to fight for his country, and Sunday the whole town turned out to see him off.

Everley is a member of Bravo Battery, 158th Field Artillery in Duncan. He will report Tuesday and leave the following day for Fort Hood, Texas, for specialized training. After that he will deploy to Iraq.

Everley has been in the National Guard for three years and likes it. He said he joined because the military provided college funding and he planned to attend Northwestern Oklahoma State University. But now he has a good job in the oil field and said it will be hard to give it up. He is a 2007 graduate of Covington-Douglas High School.

“The last couple of days I have begun to realize I will be gone a long time. I will build up a lot of money so that when I get back I can get a house. It will be good experience if it doesn’t kill me,” he said.

Everley completed his train-ing in November, and after receiving his orders, left his job in August to spend time with his family and friends. He will be deployed about 15 months.

Paulette Rink and her husband, Gary, have raised Ever-ley for the past few years. He is the son of Kay Everley

The Rinks organized the party and American Legion Post No. 109 helped with the expenses.

“We’re doing this party because he deserves it,” Paulette Rink said.

Rink said when Everley was a junior in high school he felt an obligation to join the National Guard. He went through boot camp and she said he is very proud of what he has done.

“He believes in what he does. Every time he puts on that uniform he is very proud,” she said.

The whole family is in transition, with one child getting married, one leaving for college and Everley being deployed. She said it will be a big change for the family.

Dick Powers, commander of Post 109, presented Everley with a $100 check for expenses, and said he will receive another $100 when he returns. Gerald H. Pope, district commander, also was part of the presentation.

“All the churches and the whole community are behind him,” Rink said.