Outstanding Seaman Apprentice
Retired Adm. Jonathan Greenert awards the Navy League Award to Seaman Apprentice Kiahna Kirk from Coeur d'Alene during Recruit Training Command's Pass-In-Review in Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall September, 22, 2023. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy's only boot camp.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stuart Posada)
Kiahna Kirk joined the Navy and graduated Sept. 22 in Great Falls, Illinois, where she received a Navy League Award for exceptionalism in several fields.
A little girl who touched the hearts of many in Coeur d'Alene in 2015 recently received high honors for her performance during Navy recruit training in Great Lakes, Ill.
Kiahna Kirk, raised in Coeur d’Alene, received a Navy League Award during her Sept. 22 graduation ceremony.
Kirk was 10 years old when Coeur d'Alene Police Sgt. Greg Moore was shot and killed in the line of duty. The little girl created a lemonade stand and raised over $200 for Moore's family.
“She was so affected by that story that she wanted to do something,” said Kirk's mother, Katrina Coffman.
But days later, Kirk faced her own tragedy. Her father Jeff Kirk was killed in a car crash when someone allegedly ran a red light.
When the community heard of his death, local first responders banded together to help the family. The Post Falls Police Department, Coeur d’Alene Police and Idaho State Police hosted lemonade stand fundraisers to support the Kirk children.
Coffman teared up as she recalled the outpouring of support her daughter received from her hometown.
“As a single mother, I’ve always known I wouldn’t be enough,” Coffman said “I have been amazed by the tribe of people who have really loved her.”
In return for the support she and her mother received while recovering from tragedy, Kirk has committed to paying it forward through her Navy service.
She hopes to follow in her father's footsteps. He was studying radiology, and she intends to pursue working in medical support in the Navy.
The Navy League Award Kirk received was presented to six of 1,200 graduating students from 12 divisions to recognize exceptional achievements.
Kirk's letter of commendation said she was awarded for "meritorious performance."
The letter told Kirk she "demonstrates exceptional professionalism, maturity, integrity, and leadership. While at recruit training command, you demonstrated exceptional tenacity, insight, motivation and leadership beyond those expected of a recruit trainee."
