Zephyrhills pays tribute to Marine in Iraq

A life-size cutout picture of him is signed by well wishers as a gift to his parents.

[Times photo: Janel Schroeder-Norton]
Joan Slack, 64, signs the photo of Lance Cpl. Andrew Prilliman, as Mary Harman, 79, enters the Goin' Postal store in Zephyrhills on Tuesday.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 16, 2003

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Mary Harman has known the handsome Marine in the jumbo-sized picture since he was a baby.

"He's just a great kid," Harman, 79, said of Lance Cpl. Andrew Prilliman, who is serving in Iraq while his parents await his return to Zephyrhills.

So Harman, along with a handful of other residents, inscribed her name on the gift being presented to Prilliman's parents, Lani Prilliman and Mike Prilliman. It's a 6-foot-tall cutout photograph of the 20-year-old smiling in his fatigues next to an American flag.

"God bless you. Hope to see you home soon," Harman wrote on the back.

"Thanks and get home soon," was David Koser's message for the young Marine.

Koser runs Diamonds and Designs by David downtown. He likes the idea of doing something to support a local serviceman.

"I think it's just super," Koser said.

Mike Prilliman said his son has been able to send an occasional letter but doesn't have access to e-mail. The younger Prilliman wrote on April 2 that he had been in different locations in Iraq and seen the effects of the bombing campaign.

The Marine has been in the Middle East since the end of January. It's hard to say when he might return, his father said.

"You just never know," Mike Prilliman said. "Typically the Marines are the first into battle and the first ones home after the battle's over with. They're typically not a force that stays behind."

The gift was the idea of Marcus Price, who runs the shipping store Goin' Postal, and Bob Stephens of Skywatch Signs. Stephens started making oversized signs when customers began requesting them for holiday decorations. Price came to him with the idea for the cutout.

Price invited customers who came into the store Tuesday to sign the poster, and his wife notified people at the fire station, police station and city hall about the project.

M.J. Price said Lani Prilliman and Mike Prilliman have helped her and her husband in the past, and they wanted to show a little appreciation.

"They both do a lot for the community," she said. "We wanted to do something nice for them."

Stephens and the Prices also are creating an oversized card to send to rescued POW Jessica Lynch. The card, which will bear the city seal and the message "Thank you from the city of Zephyrhills," will be available for signing Friday from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the bandstand on Main Street. It will be displayed nightly through next week, when it is sent to Lynch's family in West Virginia.

-- Molly Moorhead covers news about Zephyrhills. She can be reached at (352) 521-5757, ext. 29 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 29. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com .