I just found out....

[FloridaNative]

that my neighbor died. I used to talk to him all the time because he would come out to get his mail at the same time that I would be outside waiting for my son's school bus to arrive and so we would talk everyday.The mailman we had retired and the new mailman who took over the route comes much later in the day after my son's bus had already come and gone and so I never got to see him anymore and now yesterday I found out that his house was up for sale and that he had passed away.

I'm sure by now some of you have already closed this thread and moved on and those of you that are still hanging with me here waiting for this thread to have some sort of point let me tell you now why I decided to post this. Afterall people die everyday, no? What makes my neighbor so special? Well, let me tell you.

His name was Thomas Pollicino. He was from Brooklyn, New York. He was 87 years old when he died. To anybody who would see him he would look just like a typical person like anybody else, but he was not typical. To me he was a hero. He fought in France during World War II in one of those battles where everybody in his platoon died except for himself and two other soldiers. He was awarded 3 purple hearts for wounds he received in battle and a silver star which is awarded for showing extraordinary heroism in the face of the enemy.

When he died there was no sounding of trumpets. There was no headline in the newspaper announcing that the world had just lost a great man. None of us neighbors got together to mourn him and talk about his life. There was nothing. Mr. Pollicino died alone in his home and I didn't even know it until I saw his house for sale.

I started this thread to let people know that there was a man, a great man, named Thomas Pollicino. He was a hero. His light just left the world and I will miss him dearly. I started this thread to honor him and to let you all know a little bit about the man. May he rest in peace.

[Reddwarf]

Thanks for posting this. Remarkable people die all the time and we never know. It was nice that you had a chance to get to know him. In this age we have neighbors that we hardly know. A lady moved in next door to me a couple of months ago and I've never even seen her!

[AL417]

Thank you for sharing this with us. There are unsung heros among us everyday and yet we never see them. They're out there and sometimes if you take some time out of your everyday busy life and actually get to know someone their life story may amaze you. I love and admire older people because of what have seen and done in their lifetime. It warms my heart to know that you had a chance to get to know your neighbor and see him for more than just the old man down the street.

I am sorry for the loss of Thomas Pollicono, he was a true American Hero.

Sometimes we have to notice the unnoticed to reveal something spectacular.

[wytstang]

My he rest in peace and may God know his name. We will pick up where he left off


Thank you Thomas Pollicino and Thanks to Jen becuase of her Thomas was not forgotten

[Al-53]

Thank You Jen for posting this...Friends of mine that I lost contact with that were with me in Nam ..and one saved my life.. have passed on with out me knowing...all heroes to me...

God bless Thomas Pollicino..another Unsung Heroe....may his rewards of life be given on his journey to the next plane of spiritual existence...

A heroe will always be a heroe...That Honor you take to the Pearly Gates...and your rewards await you..God Bless

Al

[Gary Sword]

That was very nice of you to do Florida Native. He must have touched your life in a good way. I hope he has gone to a better life.

[FloridaNative]

Originally Posted by AL417

Thank you for sharing this with us. There are unsung heros among us everyday and yet we never see them. They're out there and sometimes if you take some time out of your everyday busy life and actually get to know someone their life story may amaze you. I love and admire older people because of what have seen and done in their lifetime. It warms my heart to know that you had a chance to get to know your neighbor and see him for more than just the old man down the street.

I am sorry for the loss of Thomas Pollicono, he was a true American Hero.

Sometimes we have to notice the unnoticed to reveal something spectacular.

He was a great man. When his wife was dying he came to me and asked me to help him. She had dementia and was in alot of pain and he just didn't know what to do. I went over to his house and tried to help her as best as I could. After we got her back to sleep, Mr. Pollicino showed me all his medals and the old photographs he had of his buddies. He told me about France and about the deaths of all his friends and he broke down crying as if it has just happened yesterday.

These men are the ones in the trenches, dying and being wounded for the rest of us. They see things and experience things that nobody should ever see and the rest of us could scarcely even imagine. And long after the wars are over, these men still carry it with them for the rest of their lives. They are called upon to sacrifice their all. These men are true heroes.

It was an honor to know him. He died all alone and when I found out I just had to do something about it. I felt compelled to tell whoever would listen about him and what kind of a man he was. Thank you all for listening.

[ltoman]

I am sure he is looking at you, wherever he is, smiling at your kindness. If only everyone were as thoughtful as you, to remember a person who more than added a little something to this Earth, to make it a better place for us, fighting for the freedoms we take for granted here.

It is our youth who needs to know about these people.
Thank you Jen, and God bless. May Thomas rest in peace in a much better world.

[JB_TSX]

You're thread is a nice tribute to a great man. May he rest in peace...

[Al-53]

For Thomas Pollicono a True Hero and to the rest of the Heros lost

YouTube - Hero

Have a kleenex ready....

Al