thedrifter
09-30-06, 07:06 AM
September 29, 2006
Slain Marine’s parents use benefits to adopt two children
Associated Press
PALM CITY, Fla. — Mark and Karen Zook considered adopting children years ago. When their son died while serving in Iraq, they knew adoption was for them.
Marine Cpl. Ian T. Zook, 24, died during enemy action in 2004. The Zooks used money from their son’s life insurance to adopt Anya, 11, and Alexander, 12, from Russia.
“We wanted to make sure we put it to good use,” Mark Zook said.
The children started school Monday at Barnabas Christian Academy in Port St. Lucie.
The Zooks, both 51, traveled to Kemerovo, Russia, in June to meet Anya and Alexander, who lived together in an orphanage. It took three months to complete official documents and get approval from the Russian government for the adoption to be finished.
Anya and Alexander are in a combined third- and fourth-grade class until their English skills catch up with those of other children their age. They are enjoying playing with the family dog, meeting their sister, Amy, 29, and planning a trip to Walt Disney World with their new family.
“Here we are, two parents who lost our son. There’s not a lot of hope in that,” Karen Zook said. “So we thought, somewhere in the world there’s a child who needs parents.”
Information from The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post
Ellie
Slain Marine’s parents use benefits to adopt two children
Associated Press
PALM CITY, Fla. — Mark and Karen Zook considered adopting children years ago. When their son died while serving in Iraq, they knew adoption was for them.
Marine Cpl. Ian T. Zook, 24, died during enemy action in 2004. The Zooks used money from their son’s life insurance to adopt Anya, 11, and Alexander, 12, from Russia.
“We wanted to make sure we put it to good use,” Mark Zook said.
The children started school Monday at Barnabas Christian Academy in Port St. Lucie.
The Zooks, both 51, traveled to Kemerovo, Russia, in June to meet Anya and Alexander, who lived together in an orphanage. It took three months to complete official documents and get approval from the Russian government for the adoption to be finished.
Anya and Alexander are in a combined third- and fourth-grade class until their English skills catch up with those of other children their age. They are enjoying playing with the family dog, meeting their sister, Amy, 29, and planning a trip to Walt Disney World with their new family.
“Here we are, two parents who lost our son. There’s not a lot of hope in that,” Karen Zook said. “So we thought, somewhere in the world there’s a child who needs parents.”
Information from The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post
Ellie