He was a hero because of the way he lived.
He was an outstanding human being.∼Family members of slain soldier 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary gathered outside the Shavertown funeral home for the arrival of the Army officer's body.
The 24-year-old Dallas Township soldier was killed Dec. 20 in an ambush in Iraq, just 10 days before he was scheduled to return home.
Several family members consoled 1st Lt. Cleary's mother, Marianne, as she saw her son's casket for the first time. The soldier's fiancee, Erin Kavanagh, held tightly onto 1st Lt. Cleary's brother, Patrick.
Michael's father offered a statement before the hearse arrived. "We're here to commemorate Michael and all the people who helped Mike become who he was. He was the son everybody dreamed of having and the friend anybody would have liked to have. That poor woman right over there, being hugged by her daughters, my wife," he said, pointing to Marianne, "is more responsible for that than anyone."
Mr. Cleary said his family plans to raise money for survivors and amputees of the Iraq war through a foundation in his son's name.
Donations may be sent to: 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary Memorial Foundation, c/o Bob Richardson, Wachovia Bank, P.O. Box 127, Dallas, PA 18612.
He was an outstanding human being.∼Family members of slain soldier 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary gathered outside the Shavertown funeral home for the arrival of the Army officer's body.
The 24-year-old Dallas Township soldier was killed Dec. 20 in an ambush in Iraq, just 10 days before he was scheduled to return home.
Several family members consoled 1st Lt. Cleary's mother, Marianne, as she saw her son's casket for the first time. The soldier's fiancee, Erin Kavanagh, held tightly onto 1st Lt. Cleary's brother, Patrick.
Michael's father offered a statement before the hearse arrived. "We're here to commemorate Michael and all the people who helped Mike become who he was. He was the son everybody dreamed of having and the friend anybody would have liked to have. That poor woman right over there, being hugged by her daughters, my wife," he said, pointing to Marianne, "is more responsible for that than anyone."
Mr. Cleary said his family plans to raise money for survivors and amputees of the Iraq war through a foundation in his son's name.
Donations may be sent to: 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary Memorial Foundation, c/o Bob Richardson, Wachovia Bank, P.O. Box 127, Dallas, PA 18612.
He was a hero because of the way he lived.
He was an outstanding human being.∼Family members of slain soldier 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary gathered outside the Shavertown funeral home for the arrival of the Army officer's body.
The 24-year-old Dallas Township soldier was killed Dec. 20 in an ambush in Iraq, just 10 days before he was scheduled to return home.
Several family members consoled 1st Lt. Cleary's mother, Marianne, as she saw her son's casket for the first time. The soldier's fiancee, Erin Kavanagh, held tightly onto 1st Lt. Cleary's brother, Patrick.
Michael's father offered a statement before the hearse arrived. "We're here to commemorate Michael and all the people who helped Mike become who he was. He was the son everybody dreamed of having and the friend anybody would have liked to have. That poor woman right over there, being hugged by her daughters, my wife," he said, pointing to Marianne, "is more responsible for that than anyone."
Mr. Cleary said his family plans to raise money for survivors and amputees of the Iraq war through a foundation in his son's name.
Donations may be sent to: 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary Memorial Foundation, c/o Bob Richardson, Wachovia Bank, P.O. Box 127, Dallas, PA 18612.
He was an outstanding human being.∼Family members of slain soldier 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary gathered outside the Shavertown funeral home for the arrival of the Army officer's body.
The 24-year-old Dallas Township soldier was killed Dec. 20 in an ambush in Iraq, just 10 days before he was scheduled to return home.
Several family members consoled 1st Lt. Cleary's mother, Marianne, as she saw her son's casket for the first time. The soldier's fiancee, Erin Kavanagh, held tightly onto 1st Lt. Cleary's brother, Patrick.
Michael's father offered a statement before the hearse arrived. "We're here to commemorate Michael and all the people who helped Mike become who he was. He was the son everybody dreamed of having and the friend anybody would have liked to have. That poor woman right over there, being hugged by her daughters, my wife," he said, pointing to Marianne, "is more responsible for that than anyone."
Mr. Cleary said his family plans to raise money for survivors and amputees of the Iraq war through a foundation in his son's name.
Donations may be sent to: 1st Lt. Michael J. Cleary Memorial Foundation, c/o Bob Richardson, Wachovia Bank, P.O. Box 127, Dallas, PA 18612.
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