Sprouts Scouts Gardening Clubs honors American hero

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s been over a year since Eaton Elementary 5th grader Elijah Torian and his younger sister lost their father. Master Sargent Aaron C. Torian died after an explosion in Afghanistan.

“When I heard when my dad passed away I was pretty depressed. But then one day in the mail I got a bunch of cards from all the people who knew me and that made me feel a lot better,” said Elijah Torian.

According to Mary Claire Caine, the director of the Sprout Scouts Garden Club, the entire Eaton community felt the loss.

“When I picked up my daughter that day she said Elijah wasn’t at school that day because his father was killed in Afghanistan. And my heart just sank,” said Caine.

Now the community is joining together again to honor Master Sgt. Torian by dedicating the Sprout Scout Garden in his memory.

Elijah said this is one of the best ways to remember his dad.

“He loved planting. My sister and him would go outside and plant stuff like corn and beans and carrots and stuff like that all the time,” said Torian.

He said he thinks his dad would be happy to be remembered this way, with something he shared with his kids. Elijah said the Sprouts Scouts make him feel close with his dad everyday at school. And now he can see his dad’s face every time he goes outside.