At halftime of tonight’s lacrosse game between Mercer Island and Bellevue at Mercer Island High School, Mercer Island lacrosse will honor Army Sergeant First Class Clifford Beattie of Medical Lake, Wash., who died on May 22, 2011 from wounds he suffered in an improvised explosive device blast in Baghdad.

The event is part of the Islanders Never Forget campaign, which raises money in support of the Team Jesse Foundation. Founded by Iraq War Army Veteran, Mercer Island resident and Mercer Island lacrosse assistant varsity coach Kevin Mincio, the Team Jesse Foundation preserves the legacies of our nation’s heroes through scholarships, grants and bereavement support for the families of fallen soldiers in service. Mincio created the foundation in honor of another local fallen soldier, Staff Sergeant Jesse Williams, who was killed in action on April 8, 2007, in Iraq.

The event is the culmination of a two-week fundraising campaign by the 52 members of MIHS’ lacrosse teams that included selling t-shirts  and soliciting donations from friends and family online. Contributions can be made online until 11:59 p.m. on May 9. Proceeds from the Islanders Never Forget campaign will be used to provide SFC Beattie’s two children, Jaydean and Dale with education grants. The goal is to raise $5,000 for the family.

SFC Beattie had participated in a run to honor fallen soldiers on the day he was killed. He graduated from Medical Lake High School in 1992 and had been in the Army for 17 years. He is survived by wife Karen, 20-year-old daughter Jaydean of Seattle, 17-year-old son Dale of Yelm, former wife Samantha and a large extended family.

The Mercer Island-Bellevue lacrosse game will begin at 8 p.m., with halftime around 8:30 p.m. There will be a short ceremony remembering SFC Beattie and recognizing the top fundraisers from each team.