IN MEMORY OF OUR BROTHER BORN WATERFORD, IRELAND, FEB 22th 1933 DIED NEW YORK, USA, FEB 25th 1960
Michael’s life was
taken from him on a cold night in February 1960. Those responsible removed all
identification – even his jacket. His body was recovered from the East Bay
River by the N.Y. Police Department – on the 25th day of February,
l960 – three days after his 27th birthday. Michael was taken to
Bellevue and from there to City Cemetery where he was buried as UNKNOWN. Having searched for
Michael for two years – his family discovered his fate. We knew Michael was
buried in City Cemetery, N.Y., but had no idea of the location of this
Cemetery. Forty years passed. Our
family felt it necessary to locate Michael’s grave – have his name spoken, and
the ‘Prayers for the Dead’ recited by a priest. With the help of many good
people and particularly Thomas McCarthy of the NYCHS, we found City Cemetery on
HART ISLAND. On All Souls Day last
November, Fr. Moore called Michael’s name and performed the service for the
dead. Michael is no longer UNKNOWN. Hart Island was very
beautiful on that day – so peaceful – the only sounds the “sigh” of the wind
through the trees and the bell ringing on the buoy out in the water just off the
Island. Rest in Peace Michael
and each and every soul buried on HART ISLAND. Hart
Island, 2nd November 2000 |