Fallen Soldier's Family Selling Charitable T-Shirts in His Memory

Operation Ward 57 was always there for U.S. Army Sgt. Derek McConnell and his family. Now, to show their thanks, the family is selling T-shirts in memory of McConnell to raise donations for the volunteer group.

McConnell, 23, was after being hit by an improvised explosive device. He lost his legs and suffered other serious injuries that kept him in recovery in Maryland for months before returning to his Parsippany home to a hero’s welcome in late 2012. McConnell was set to marry his high school sweetheart Krystina Dressler of Fairfield and even won a dream wedding in the online giveaway, "Operation Tie the Knot."

The U.S. Army sergeant died suddenly on March 18, 2013.

In commemoration of his life and his unyielding philosophy, McConnell's family is selling  T-shirts featuring his motto, “No Luck, Only Sacrifice.”

“It means that you don't get anywhere in life from being lucky,” said his mother Siobhan Fuller-McConnell. “You have to sacrifice and you have to work hard. He lived his life that way.”

Derek got his motto tattooed on his right arm right before he deployed, said Fuller-McConnell. After his injuries, his platoon, his girlfriend and even his mother received the matching tattoos.

The shirts are selling for $20.99 on niceshirt.org, but will only be available for a limited time. As of Wednesday, they had sold 70 shirts and raised $630.

The proceeds, minus the cost of the shirts themselves, will be donated to Operation Ward 57, a volunteer group started by nurses to give wounded warriors a sense of belonging, said Fuller-McConnell.

According to their website, “Operation Ward 57 supports wounded warriors, their families and medical staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center by providing items that assist in recovery, maintenance, and more of the hospital environment and through advocacy, education and promotion of their circumstances.”

“They did everything for us,” said Fuller-McConnell. “Krystina was craving Burger King and they came in with a sandwich. We needed a flashlight to walk back because it was dark out and they brought us one. They even brought us sharpies to sign flags, anything we needed at all.”

When Derek passed, the family wanted to donate to a nonprofit that was very important to him, she added. Laura Boone, lead volunteer of Operation Ward 57, even helped to design the T-shirts.

“We don't have a goal, but if people want to purchase shirts then we would love for them to,” said Fuller-McConnell. “It started mostly for family and friends but the community has really come out and people are jumping at the chance. We have received a lot more support than I expected.”