Have you ever in your life met someone who can motivate and inspire you to face your biggest fears? I have, my grandfather, Michael Mendicino. From the day I was born, my grandfather has been my motivation to aspire for everything good in life.
I could only sit and listen with great admiration as he told his story of being in the Pacific Theater during WWII and of the sacrifices that he made when our nation called. His stories of WWII alone were enough to make me realize that the greatest gift that we can give is the gift of service and volunteering for others. As so many others did, he left the love of his life and put off starting a family to serve our nation.
Upon his return from overseas, he began working in the steel mill and started his family. Eventually, he and my grandmother had six children. Sometimes, my grandfather had to take on other jobs, after working full shifts in the mill, just to make ends meet and support his family. Even through the tough times, he always made sure that he had provided for his wife and children.
In the early 1990’s, my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. He fought it with everything that he had, knowing that his family still needed him and because nothing was more important to him than his family. He beat a deadly disease like cancer, not just to survive but for his family.
After 54 years of marriage, six children, six in-laws and seventeen grandchildren, my grandmother passed away and my grandfather became a torn man. There was not a day that he did not visit her, but he is still stood tall and doing what he can for his family. Through tough times, hardships and pain, my grandfather always did what he could for all of us. He served others by serving our nation, he served others by providing for his family and to this day did what he could to serve those around him.
He has taught me the greatest lesson of my life, to place service to others ahead of yourself.
It is very hard for me to stand up here and try to describe the man that captured all of our hearts. Words can’t even come close to describe what kind of person Pappy Mike was, and the only way I can paint an image of him are through my Father’s words : “I can only hope that one day I will be half the man that my father was.” It’s hard to believe that he’s gone, but right now, I know he is with Grandma Lena looking down on us all. I know that there will never be any man or woman that will have impacted all of our lives more than Pappy Mike and Grandma Lena. He was a United States veteran, a Father, and a Grandfather, but more importantly, he was, and always will be, my hero. |
