Included in the current exhibit at the Garden City Library, which ends on June 30th, is memorabilia from the life of Garden City's sole casualty in Iraq, 1st Lieutenant Michael L. LiCalzi, USMC. These items give us a snapshot of the remarkable life that this young man led and the sacrifice he made for his country.

Michael was a tank platoon commander in Company A 2nd Tank Battalion USMC. He and three other Marines died on May 11, 2006 when their M1A1 Abrams Battle Tank rolled off a bridge in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. This tank is the largest in the military and command of one indicates the highest proficiency in armored command. He was just 24 years old and had been deployed in Iraq for only six-and-a-half weeks.

Less than a year earlier, in June 2005, Michael graduated as a Marine from USA Armor School, in Ft. Knox, Kentucky. As the top student in his class he received the Distinguished Honor Award.

Prior to his attendance at Armor School, he graduated from the US Naval Academy in May 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He was a model student and developed strong and lasting friendships during his years at Annapolis. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the USMC and attended The Basic School in Quantico, Va. His father remembers that "Mike always wanted to become a Marine. He felt it was the honorable thing to do."

Mike grew up in Garden City and attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY where he graduated in 2000 with his twin brother Greg. His German teacher, Bro. Richard Hartz recalls that Mike was a very good student and also a member of the German Club. In an article about Mike for the Chaminade school newspaper, Tarmac, Bro. Richard noted that Mike "got along well with his peers, and he and his brother had a close circle of friends." Mike's mother, Carol LiCalzi, remembers that Mike loved his years at Chaminade and his favorite activities were cross-country and track. She noted that he would use running as stress relief and recalled that in his student days at the US Naval Academy he would run with a friend as a form of relaxation."

Another passion of Mike's was surfing, which he often did at Lido West Beach. Therefore, it was fitting that in July 2008, a bronze plaque and a surf rack were unveiled, as well as a new roadway sign bearing the name "1st Lt. Michael L. LiCalzi Path." The event was attended by Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray, Councilman Edward Ambrosino, Bishop William Murphy, Fr. Ernest Lorfanfant (Chaminade), the LiCalzi family and others. Mike's father, Greg LiCalzi Sr. spoke of his son's perseverance and how fully committed he was to everything he did.

Since Mike's death, his family has established a not-for-profit organization called Ace in the Hole Foundation, to remember and honor Mike's sacrifice. "Ace in the Hole" is one of the mottos of the 2nd Tank Battalion. In 2009 this foundation raised over $20,000 which was distributed to three charities which Mike would have supported.

The many tributes to 1st Lt. Michael LiCalzi are thoughtful and well deserved. In remembering his twin brother, Greg LiCalzi noted that "Mike wanted to make a difference in the world. That was his goal. He had a love for everything around him. He loved his family, his friends and his country." Capt. Edward Y. Blakiston, A Company's commander, had similar thoughts about Mike, as noted on the Ace in the Hole Foundation website. Lt. LiCalzi was "a good person, fine officer and great Marine".

—written by William Slattery, Chaminade 2011. William and his brother Thomas worked on the Lt. LiCalzi

portion of the exhibit which was organized by Cyril Smith.