My name is Stephanie Cestaro, I am a Police Officer in Franklin Lakes NJ. I am volunteering with Operation Deep Blue, to raise money and honor Fallen Service Members and First Responders via a 225 mile kayaking expedition from NJ to Washington DC.

This will be my second year participating in Operation Deep Blue’s expedition to Honor the Fallen. This year, I am Honoring Marine Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey.

Cpl. Keaton G. Coffey, 22, of Boring, Oregon, was killed on May 24, 2012 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province Afghanistan. He only had three weeks left on his tour during his second deployment to Afghanistan when he was killed. He was scheduled to return back to his base, Camp Pendleton.

He was assigned to 1st Law Enforcement Battalion, 1st Marine Headquarters Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

Fellow Marines spoke of Coffey’s kindness, passion for his work, commitment and the natural abilities that helped him excel as a dog handler with his canine partner, Denny.

Coffey was to be married to fiancé Brittany Dygert in July and is survived by his mother, Inger, and father, Grant Coffey.

Coffey’s father, Grant, has spent more than 35 years at Portland Fire & Rescue.

I am humbly honored to remember Keaton’s service, selflessness and family on this years expedition.

Any and all donations are greatly appreciated. All funds will be donated to Operation Deep Blue, which will then distribute funds to various non-profit organizations that directly benefit the families of fallen Service Members and First Responders.