Liam O'Brien to be Commissioned Online

Burlington, VT:  May 15th @ 9:30 AM

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Liam Magner O’Brien, 22, will be commissioned into the United States Army via Zoom at his home in Burlington, VT, this Friday. A cadre of 13 ROTC cadets at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, are set to be commissioned, along with their platoon mates from Fordham University. Liam graduated from Burlington High School in 2016. 

 

Liam was 3 1/2 yrs old when 9-11 happened.  He was living in New York City, 4 miles from ground zero and that day charted his life course. Moving to Vermont a year later, Liam’s family moved in next to then Major Michael Heston. The major would soon become Liam’s lifetime mentor and helped to inspire him towards his goals and how to always keep his hair real short!  The (late) General Michael Heston spoke to Liam on his last weekend, inspiring him again and assuring him he was the next generation to lead. June Heston (General Heston’s widow) will be in attendance at the commissioning to pin on Liam’s bars. 

 

Through 12 years of scouting and 6 years as apprentice and counselor at Machia Wilderness Camp, Liam kept his focus on being of service to his fellow man. He often speaks of Secret Service or FBI career options, but for now his focus is getting to Ranger school. He is being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the VT National Guard. He also is graduating with a Bachelors Degree from Marist College, with a major in Advertising and plans to work with the family business, Verde Group Films in Burlington. 

On Friday, he will finally outrank his late Grandfather, longtime Burlington resident Staff Sgt. Edward J. (Ned) O’Brien who served in WW2 and will also be a strong presence at the event. 

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The Machia Camp board of directors is proud of our former campers and apprentices! We plan to watch as Liam is commissioned safely from our homes.