WARRENTON Unlike many 11-year-olds, Kasey Bageants idol is not the latest tween megastar but instead the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr. Recently, persistence paid off for Kasey when she got to meet Admiral Papp after writing him a letter. 

For the last two years, Kasey has had a deep passion to join the Coast Guard after she graduates high school.  Her passion stems from her dad, John, being in the Coast Guard and as she says, I know a lot of people in it and it seems like its going to be a challenge. 

When Kasey found out that Admiral Papp would be in the area for Rear Adm. Gary Blores retirement, she asked her dad if she could go to the all hands muster so she could meet him. And while the answer was no, that didnt deter her enthusiasm. While he was in the shower preparing for the muster, she wrote Admiral Papp a letter saying how much she wants to join the Coast Guard Academy and that, When I get in the Coast Guard I want to be as high a rank as you! John found the letter waiting for him when he got out of the shower and decided to take it along but had no intention of giving it to the admiral. 

John ended up showing the letter to Master Chief Levett, who strongly encouraged him to give it to Admiral Papp. He was reluctant at first but finally gave it him. He was extremely surprised when the admiral read it and responded, Well youre bringing her to meet me tomorrow right? Over a week later, John is still surprised saying, I still cannot believe I gave it to him! 

Kasey says she was very excited and surprised when she learned that her letter had gotten through and that Admiral Papp actually wanted to meet her.  The next day, she attended the retirement, where he presented her with his personal flag pin. He said it was pretty neat that an 11-year-old wrote him a letter, she says, adding that receiving his personal pin was, pretty epic. 

John was very surprised at how much time the Admiral spent with his daughter and the depth of conversation the two had about Kaseys plans for the future and her interest in the Coast Guard. It was a very proud moment for me, John says. She knows what she wants in life and they really enjoyed that, says John of the admiral and his wife, who Kasey also got to meet. She did it all on her own, John said of Kaseys opportunity. That was the thing that surprised all of us. 

Kasey, currently entering the sixth grade, is involved with Junior Miss Loyalty and plays basketball and soccer and a variety of instruments including the clarinet and trumpet. She hopes to attend the U.S. Coast Guard Academys summer Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) the summer after her junior year to prepare her for application to the academy when she graduates. John and the rest of Kaseys family, her mom, Melissa, and sister, Rebecca, are all supportive of Kaseys dream to one day join the Coast Guard. I will be at that graduation if she goes to the academy, John says. Im looking forward to it.