Staff Sgt. Marc Small, Army

Staff Sgt. Marc J. Small, 29, of Collegeville, Pa., died Feb. 12, 2009 at Faramuz, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and small arms fire. He was assigned to the 1^st Battalion, 3^rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, N.C. The soldier was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The 1997 graduate of Methacton High School was survived by his fiancée, Amanda Charney, his father and stepmother, Murray and Karen, his mother and stepfather, Mary and Peter MacFarland, his brother, Matt, sisters Heather MacFarland Wellock, Jennifer MacFarland, and Megan MacFarland, and stepbrothers, Travis and Tyler.

The Travis Manion Foundation provided Challenge Grants to Marc’s mother and sister, Mary and Megan MacFarland, to be a part of Shane’s Challenge and travel to Guatemala with a group of fellow survivors. Staff Sgt. Marc Small will be one of the Fallen Heroes honored through the house they build for a family in need.

“We enjoy service opportunities and a chance to honor Marc’s memory along with other fallen soldiers.  Marc instilled in us the importance of helping the less fortunate. This will be our first time building a home, but hopefully not our last!” –Mary and Megan Mac Farland