Clothing company naming shorts after Bristol’s Sgt. Andrew McKenna

May 27, 2016 5:58 pm

By Bianca Buono

@BBuonoABC6

A clothing company known for its shorts is naming its most popular product after a fallen Rhode Island Hero. First Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna of Bristol was wearing a pair of the Chubbies shorts just weeks before he was killed. One of the co-founders heard McKenna’s story and said he had to do something to honor him.

Sgt. McKenna was recognized at last year’s Bristol Fourth of July Parade just weeks before he was killed in Afghanistan. It was the last time many Rhode Islanders saw the decorated war hero and one thing caught everyone’s attention that day: his patriotic shorts.

"I think we were really humbled by it and felt really proud of the fact that he helped, what we were doing was making his day happier and he was proud to wear them,” said Rainer Castillo, the co-founder of Chubbies.

Castillo heard about what happened to Sgt. McKenna when McKenna’s close friends reached out to him. Castillo was moved by his story.

"We decided that we were going to take our best selling shorts, traditionally called the ‘Mericas,’ it’s an American flag, and we’re going to rename it in honor of Andrew the ‘McKennas,’” Castillo said.

The San Francisco-based company is not only changing the name. They worked closely with McKenna’s close friends and family to come up with a special message that will be featured inside the shorts.

"Every short will have a tribute inside of it to Andrew kind of describing his story in case somebody gets it gets it not knowing the context in which they’re purchasing,” said Castillo.

The ‘McKennas’ will be available to buy starting Memorial Day and sold up until this year’s Bristol Fourth of July Parade.

"A hundred percent of the profits of all sales of the shorts go back to the Andrew P. McKenna Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund,” Castillo said.

You can buy the shorts online at www.chubbies.com. McKenna’s friends will also be selling them at a booth every night of the Bristol Fourth of July Concert Series which starts June 19^th.