MY VETERAN'S MEMORIAL!

Sergeant Michael Frederic May gave his life in honorable service to his country. He committed himself to God, Honor, and Country in keeping with the tradition of Special Forces soldiers. He died with his teammate, William Anthony Evans, as an American hero.
June 7, 1947 to March 2, 1969
POB: Vassar, Michigan
On November 8, 1991 a group of former Special Forces soldiers met at the Bruce VFW Post, St. Clair Shores, Michigan to form a Michigan branch of the United States Army Special Forces Association (SFA). The small group of charter members elected a board of officers to lead them. The newly elected board, President Bob Slivatz, Vice-President Al Davis, Adjutant/Secretary Dewey Laguire-Quinn, and Treasurer John Southard responded to a desire to adopt an identifying name for the new SFA Chapter LV. They led other founding members, Dick Shevchenko, Steve Adolph, Mike Reyes, Charles "Bud" Asher into the chapter's initial course of business to adopt a personal identity. Steve Adolph proposed the Chapter 55 adopt the name of Michael F. May, Michigan's only Special Forces soldier to never return from the Vietnam War. In a vote taken that day SFA Chapter LV became known as the Michael F. May Memorial Chapter.

Christopher E Esckelson

Vassar, Michigan

December 28, 2006

Age Military Rank Unit/Location 22 Marine Cpl USMC Reservist Saginaw , Michigan

Killed while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq . Vassar post office will bear name of town son who gave his life in Iraq Vassar Postmaster Stacey Middleton, right, hugs Michelle "Mitzi" Hill, mother of late Marine Cpl. Christopher E. Esckelson of Vassar, during a dedication ceremony Tuesday that named the Vassar Post Office after Esckelson. "I still cry every day," said Michelle "Mitzi" Hill, 49, the fallen Marine's mother, of Tuscola County's Juniata Township.Mitzi Hill, a 23-year employee of the U.S. Postal Service, works as a mail carrier in Vassar, walking a 12-mile route each day. The late Marine's father, David E. Esckelson, 49, of Vassar, donned the dog tag his son wore when Cpl. Esckelson died in Iraq. David Esckelson also wore his late son's desert camouflage "cover" cap. "It's hard on us, but an event like this is all good," David Esckelson said. "You have to look at it that way. "I'm just trying to remember my boy, and not let him be forgotten." Two different era's, two different wars, two different hero's,  both from Vassar, my home town!  I went to school with Mike May and he was a friend of my first husband Rollie and mine! He died 37 years ago, his body was never found or returned! Vassar remembers him by having the Mike May Memorial Race every year and with a plaque by the water fontain in downtown Vassar! Christopher Esckelson was killed in action 5 years ago, serving with the 1st Battalion of the 24th Marines in Iraq, he died around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, three days shy of his 23rd birthday. In honor of Chris they named the Vassar Post office after him, his mother has worked there for 25 + years! His father passed away about 2 years ago! I remember sitting with my Dad as he laid in the hospital about a week before he died, I was talking to him and noticed him staring out the window and when I asked him what he was staring at he said "the flag, look how it waves in the wind, isn't it beautiful" I looked at it and then back at him and he had tears in his eyes! I thought to myself, I finally seen the flag thru the eyes of someone who fought and seen many die in honor of our country, I have never looked at our flag the same since! As we travel I thank all our vets for protecting this great country and our freedom! NEVER FORGET THE SACRIFICES OF SO MANY!