2006-10-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

Michael John Freeman
Memorial

Happy Birthday Mikie,

I miss you each and every day. Today I want to honor the joy your brought to my life and the memories of you that continue to bring joy into my life.

I love you!!!!

2006-09-11T16:17:00.000-07:00

Service of Memory

AD2 (AW) Michael Freeman September 8, 2006, NASWI Chapel

The beginning of this week, AW2 Michael Freeman died of several strokes,surrounded by his sister, his Commanding Officer, and his best friends.Inthis place we now gather our many different beliefs, and join them in aprayer of hope.This ceremony is not a time for explanations or justifications, thoughourquestions hang just outside reach; and this is not a time ofrecriminationsor accusations, although anger is part of our emotions; this place is asanctuary, and for this service we must seek to lay aside the judgmentthatcan so fill wounded hearts. We are here to find God's peace amid thebroken fragments of shattered hope. And in finding peace, then carryingon. Today, create sanctuary in your heart for Michael's life and hismemories.

This Chapel is a place of safety, where we come to honor our shipmateandfriend. Some of you knew him well, others -like me- not at all; but wegather with his sister Meggon, his dear friends, his squadron andshipmatesas his community, his extended family, because we together must squarelyface the circumstances of his death without losing the essence of hislife;for his life, like all lives, are a gift; and here, now, we seek toreleaseMichael's spirit from among us, while still retaining those feelings andmemories which continue to have power to endear him to our hearts.

AE1 Olmstead (Michael's LPO) told me that Michael was an outstandingpettyofficer and Aircrew man. For those who may not know, men like Michaelcometo work not knowing what crisis might fill their day; and it's notunusualfor them to end up hovering over flaming wreckage, or a wreckedsnowmobileplanning a rescue. Men like Michael will jump from an aircraft intofreezing water with fuel burning on top, to save an injured pilot withlittle regard for his own safety. Michael's life was defined by hisdedication to others, his intense sense of obligation and commitment,andhis amazing good nature. But then many of you already know this abouthim.I was told Michael had three great loves; he was devoted to his dogs-indeed his only request of the shop on his behalf was to be able to gohome at lunch so he could let his dogs out. He loved working out, andAE1told me his favorite exercise was hanging from a bar with inversionbootsand doing sit-ups. And Michael was particular about eating well and using nutrition supplements; he planned in fact to get out of the Navy and goto College to major in Physical Education and health, and be a personaltrainerIt is truly ironic that one so dedicated to preserving life and to goodhealth should be taken by a stroke; and we who remain are left to ponderthis fragility of life.His loss is the loss of his family, it is the loss of his friends here;itis the loss of his colleagues at SAR, and his shipmates in the lineshack;today we are all less for his tragic and untimely death.

George C. Scott once remarked that the human spirit is stronger thananything that can happen to it; including death. And if anyoneepitomizedthat declaration, it was Michael Freeman.This afternoon, we gather in the quiet of this place to pay our tributeandrespect to this child of God. At 29, Michael Freeman entered this stageofhistory not so many years ago, and in his brief life, he was privilegedtoact on this mortal stage, and to play his part exceedingly well. Now thecurtain falls; he moves through the exit; the drama of his earthly lifecomes to a close. But his passion for duty and excellence is some oftheessence of him that remains. Though Michael is now committed back tothateternity from which he came, we here are his witnesses that his lifetouched and changed this world for the better; the new friends hiscrisishas drawn together - his beautiful dogs that Brianna and her husband areadopting - the space in our hearts where his absence echoes and calls ustobelieve in a better day.

Every country, every race has its own way of burying their dead. Therearesepulchers and shrouds, graves and mausoleums. The American Indians senttheir deceased to the great hunting ground in the sky; sailors go toDavyJones Locker. The Norsemen sent their dead to Valhalla while in Greeklegend their spirits found their Heaven in the Elysian Fields.Yet whether we believe in the Buddhist Nirvana or the Christian Paradiseweall share the same feelings of loss and grief when we lose someone welove,someone we knew, someone that touched our lives.

This memorial gives usaway to express that grief and to say our good-byes, or to simply standinsilence before the mystery of life and death. Such a tribute belongs toMichael's friends and colleagues, to all of you; for you are his church,his congregation, his family. Michael Freeman contributed to our lives,tothe mission of the Navy, to the security of our country; but he did muchmore, by touching the lives he met with friendship and love. It isfittingthat we should publicly proclaim and honor him, as well as remember andtake from here his friendship in our hearts.Many have died serving our great nation, and are unfortunately not thelast. Michael stands among them. It is our duty now to catch the torchhewas privileged to hold, honor our brother, remember his hope, and carry on.

2006-09-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

You sure knew how to pose! You big stud~

2006-08-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Michael Freeman is our angel!