Background
Born
and raised in Wappingers Falls, Kieran Michael Lalor was
taught to love his family,
his home and his country. He was active from the early
going, playing Little League and Pop Warner, serving as an
Altar Boy at St. Mary’s Church and working as a Poughkeepsie
Journal paperboy.
Kieran’s
life has long been one of service to his community. While
working his way through college as a forklift operator and gas
station attendant, Kieran was also an Activity Coordinator for
an after-school program and a teacher’s assistant helping
severely handicapped children at Dutchess County BOCES. Kieran
attended the Virginia Military Institute and graduated from
Providence College. After college, he became a Social
Studies teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in
Poughkeepsie.
Military Service
 When
he enlisted in the Marine Corps, Kieran was the second oldest
recruit in his platoon. But that suited him fine,
because Kieran was fulfilling a lifelong dream of following
his father, brother and uncle into the Marine Corps.
During
six years of Marine Corps service, Kieran trained on Mount
Fuji Japan, led a Fire Team of Marines in NATO training
exercise Operation Battle Griffon in Trondheim, Norway and
worked with Ukrainian Naval Infantry and Turkish Marines in
Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations and amphibious assault
tactics during Operation Sea Breeze in Odessa, Ukraine.
September 11th
 While
a member of the Marine Corps Reserve, Kieran began pursuing
another goal and enrolled at Pace University School of Law. He
was about a week into his legal education on September 11,
2001. That
day was especially trying for Kieran and his family – his
sister, Suzanne, worked on the 92nd Floor of the North Tower
of the World Trade Center, and it wasn’t until that
afternoon when Kieran and his family learned Suzanne was safe.
Suzanne was a few minutes behind schedule that morning and
instead of being in her office when her building was attacked,
she was at the foot of the towers. She was delayed
because she was icing and carrying her sister Meghan’s
birthday cake
to bring to a celebration that evening. Because of this
experience, Kieran takes the War On Terror both seriously and
personally.
Iraq
In the aftermath of 9/11 Kieran’s
Reserve unit was mobilized by the President for domestic duty
as a ready reaction force. The unit was activated a second
time and deployed to Iraq in March 2003. Kieran served
as a S.A.W gunner while conducting security and humanitarian
operations in the Shia city of Nasiriyah, located along the
Euphrates River in southern Iraq.
While in Iraq, Kieran’s unit
proactively patrolled the streets, established checkpoints and
acted on intelligence to thwart enemy attacks and confiscate
insurgent weapons. His unit was relieved by the Italian Army
who subscribed to a reactive doctrine of remaining in their
compound until an incident occurred and then responding.
Sadly, the Italian allies were hit by a suicide attack that
killed 19 soldiers two months after they took over the
building formerly occupied by Kieran’s unit. This event
confirmed Kieran’s belief that victory in the war on terror
requires aggressive tactics that take the fight to the enemy.
National Security Activist
When Kieran returned from Iraq he noticed liberals
exploiting the war on terror for political gain. To
combat this and to promote policies and candidates committed
to victory in the
war on terror, Kieran founded the Eternal Vigilance Society.
The organization draws its name and spirit from President
Thomas Jefferson’s profound belief that “The Price of
Freedom Is Eternal Vigilance.”
Under Kieran’s leadership, Eternal Vigilance Society
organized support the troop rallies and sent packages to
overseas military personnel. Kieran published Op-Eds
advancing Eternal Vigilance Society principles in the New York
Post, Washington Times, Poughkeepsie Journal, New York Journal
News and Times-Herald Record. He also appeared on the
Fox News Channel and 770 WABC radio to articulate support for
the war in Iraq and pro-active national security policies.
Katrina
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Kieran
– remembering the nation’s support for New York after 9/11
– drove with two Marine buddies to New Orleans with supplies
and joined search & rescue teams. For Kieran, it was
simply another chance to serve his country in a time of need.
Kieran and the
other two Marines were awarded a Navy and Marine Corps
Achievement Medal.
The citation of the medal reads in part:
“Corporal Lalor conducted numerous rescue missions by
land and water working from dawn until dusk.”
“Corporal Lalor’s initiative and selfless devotion to
duty reflected great credit upon himself and are in keeping
with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United
States Naval Service."
Family Life
Kieran and his wife Mary Jo are graduates
of Pace University School of Law. They live in Peekskill
and have two beautiful baby girls. Katherine Mary was
born in July 2006 and Riley Maireid was born in September
2007.
Kieran’s wife Mary Jo is a reading
teacher in Rockland County and the daughter of a 41 year NYPD
veteran. Kieran’s parents continue to call home the
house in Wappingers where they raised Kieran, his three
sisters and two brothers.
The Right Leader, at the Right Time
Kieran Michael Lalor is a proven leader
who has demonstrated uncommon devotion to his country and to
the Hudson Valley. With your help, we can reclaim our
seat in the House of Representatives so it reflects our
values, not those of Hollywood elites and liberal extremists.
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