RUMFORD — Mountain Valley High School Principal Matthew Gilbert said late Tuesday night that counselors will be available at the school Wednesday for those grieving the death of U.S. Army Pvt. Buddy McLain of Peru, a graduate of the school.

Gilbert said it’s “not just for the kids that knew him, because you never know how a tragedy like this is going to impact a kid. We have staff members with kids overseas right now or sons that are overseas, and just hearing that news, I’m sure it has to be difficult.

“So, we’re going to make sure that we have people available. Also, we have kids in this school that have siblings that are serving in the armed services overseas and I’m sure that brings a little bit of reality of how dangerous it is overseas. They’re going to need some help, too,” he said.

Speaking from his home in Jay, Gilbert said school officials are also supporting the McLain family as they prepare for the funeral.

“Right now, I know the family is going to be receiving the body and what will happen is, we will be working with the funeral home to see what’s appropriate. So, we’ll offer the family anything that we can to help them out.

“I think they were leaving today to head down to Dover, Del., and the body will be flown in, and then, depending on what needs to take place with the military, they’ll release the body to the family,” he said.

“We have to wait to see what the timeline is and the wishes of the family are at that point,” he said.

Regional School Unit 10 Superintendent Thomas Ward said Tuesday evening from his home in Temple that he authorized Gilbert to let McLain’s family know they could hold the funeral service at the high school.