THE WALL OF FACES

Michael, there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about you. Memories of your kindness, your sweetness and your love of life (and me) continue to inspire me. I was given a special gift when you came into my life and to this day I still feel your strong presence with me. You will always be in my heart and in my mind.

DEAR MICHAEL: TODAY, MEMORIAL DAY 2009, A NEW NAME WAS ADDED AFTER YOURS TO THE WALL. HE ALSO DIED WELL AFTER HE SUSTAINED HIS INJURIES. I THINK OF YOU AND MISS YOU. I REMEMBER HOW CUTE YOU WERE, THAT BIG SMILE AND HOW SILLY YOU COULD BE. ONE NIGHT YOU WERE PRANCING AROUND IN A SMOKING JACKET WITH A PIPE IN HAND. IT WAS CHRISTMAS. WERE YOU IN A PLAY? OR WAS THE JACKET YOUR FATHER'S? I FORGET. AND I REMEMBER THE PERSON THAT CAME HOME, A YOUNG MAN SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE YOUNG BOY THAT LEFT. I VISITED YOU IN YOUR ROOM ON THE SIDE OF YOUR HOUSE AND REMEMBER NOT KNOWING WHAT TO SAY TO YOU. WHAT CAN BE SAID? I'M GLAD YOU WENT BACK TO CATSKILL. I HOPE, DEAR COUSIN,YOUR TIME THERE WAS GOOD AND YOU STAYED AWAY FROM THE COW PIES WE THOUGHT WERE SO FUNNY WAY BACK THEN. LOVE, ELLEN

Michael,

You were certainly a very special guy. You were always up for anything fun and made us laugh. I have some fond memories of our growing up years.
You were a real trooper. You endured and always gave your all. I'll always remember you and treasure our friendship.Thanks for all you gave.

You & my crazy brother, Henry, were friends in school. (Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Roosevelt.) I remember you being small in stature but your presence always took up the room. A true wit, a warm & caring person, always making others welcome (even as a kid). The Lord kept you here, even though you were suffering because He knew that you still had so much good to do for others. I know that you have a special place in Heaven!

Hi Mike. We were in Boy Scouts together. We didn't see much of each other after grammar school-you went to Roosevelt and I went to Baldwin. But I want you to know that I have always thought about you and your great sense of humor. I always think about the show we put on in Scouts where you dressed as a woman and brought the house down with you great line "it takes a woman to do these things!". Absolutely classic!

I imagine you're hanging out with Bobby Leahy (from scouts too). Impossible to imagine so many names from the Baldwin-Roosevelt area are on that wall. Anyway God must have had some good use for your sense of humor that's why He called you so early. God speed my old friend.