Michael Robert Girdano

West Point, 2007

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by 2LT Marcus Brooks on August 6, 2008:

Mike is and will always be one of the best friends I have had at West Point. We made it through our first year together (plebe year) in company A-2. I am from Southern California and after the first real snowstorm plebe year in December of 2003 I ran over to his room ecstatic because of the amount of snow and the first time I had seen snowplows in action. Being from Pennsylvania he naturally gave me a hard time so excited about frozen bits of water...he took it upon himself to introduce me to Northeast weather. Over Presidents Day weekend, he invited me back to his home our first year and I got the pleasure to meet his family. During the drive the term "hoagie" was mentioned...and being from California I asked..."What is that?" The car erupted in dismay and laughter (there were a couple cadets driving with us). I didn't know what a hoagie was because we just call them subs, so needless to say he educated me and bought me my first official hoagie. It was so cold that winter that the lakes around his house had all frozen over, many of you may laugh because this happens every year, but to me this was a frozen miracle. I had only heard of lakes freezing over. He took me out on the frozen lake, played football on the frozen lake between the ice fishermen. I remember driving with his brother Nunz in the car to the song "This Love" by Maroon 5. It had just come out and we were driving the loop around his house over and over singing this song at the top of our lungs...whenever I hear that song I will think about Mike and the great times we had! I have so many great memories of Mike; these are just a couple...I will cherish these memories and many more. My heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends, Soldiers, and anyone else that he touched. With honor and friendship, 2LT Marcus Brooks 2007 West Point Graduate Plebe year company A-2

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