- June 21, 2025
Harlem Slay and his adopted family, Mehury, Kyler, Diego and Xamuel Bressler. Courtesy photo
Harlem Slay receives his U.S. Marines graduation stole. Courtesy photo
Harlem Slay with his graduation cord. Courtesy photo
Harlem Slay (center) at FPC's cord ceremony at the Palm Coast VFW for seniors joining the military. Courtesy photo
Harlem Slay in his senior Yearbook photo. Courtesy photo
Diego Bressler wasn’t sure how well his adopted son, Harlem Slay, would do on the ASVAB military test, which helps determine whether you are a good fit to join the armed services.
It was hard to tell, because Slay doesn’t talk much. One word answers are his norm. But it soon became evident to Bressler that Slay knew more answers on the practice test than he did.
“We were floored about how bright and smart he is,” Bressler said referring to himself and his wife, Mehury (pronounced Mary).
Slay also surprised Flagler Palm Coast High School’s counselors. When he transferred to FPC from Port Orange Atlantic in his junior year, he was a long way from being able to graduate on time.
“He wanted to get his diploma and enlist in the Marines,” FPC counselor Amy Espinoza said. “He came from behind and put a lot of work in, testing, taking some classes. Everything I asked him to do, he did.”
Slay was cleared to graduate just a few weeks ago. On Wednesday, May 28, he was scheduled to graduate with the rest of his FPC class. On July 8, he begins Marine Corps boot camp.
“He just wants to serve his country and help people,” Espinoza said.
“They’ll help me set paths for myself,” Slay said of joining the Marines.
Setting paths has been difficult for Slay. He never had a stable home life until meeting the Bresslers when he was 12 years old.
Slay and the Bresslers’ son, Xamuel, met at camp and became friends. The Bresslers became his foster parents but lost him for two years after a judge sent him back to his parents, Mehury Bressler said. But he ended up back with the woman who had adopted his two older siblings.
Finally, the judge terminated the rights of his parents, Diego Bressler said.
“When the lady wanted to adopt him with his brother and sister, he said, ‘No, I want to be adopted by the Bresslers,’” Diego Bressler said. “It was very, very moving.”
The Bresslers adopted Slay on May 15, 2024.
“We loved him since he was 12,” Mehury said. “He’s an amazing kid.”
Having endured so much upheaval, Slay seems to thrive when he has structure in his life. As a member of FPC’s wrestling team, he said he enjoyed “the physical and mental challenge” the sport offered.
“The more you challenge him, the more he likes the structure, so the Marine Corps made sense,” Diego Bressler said.
Three weeks ago, Diego said, “Harlem chose to get baptized and follow in the faith. That was big for us.”
“He’s pretty happy,” Mehury said. “It was good to see him bring his grades up. We told him, whatever happens, you have a home, you have a family.”
