TRIBUTES

Michael Shay

On March 17, 2007,  PFC John F. Landry Jr. was killed serving his country in Iraq. I learned of it as I was listening to my voicemail while going over the Sagamore bridge. I was working in Hyannis at the time. His parents were stuck at the airport in Orlando and they were being told that the first available flight was days away due to a storm.

I went to the Kennedy compound got a phone number for the Senator's Boston office. I called and told them about it and asked if he could do something to expidite their return home to Wilmington, Massachusetts. He went out of his way to help and called the Landrys and talked with them for over an hour.  I just want to attest to the fact that his attention to the situation truly helped the Landry family in their darkest hour.

When I returned home to Wilmington I saw that the flag at the Post-Office was the only flag in town not flying at half staff. I asked that the flag be lowered and my request was denied. I was told that it would require a presidential order. I called the Senator's office again and spoke with Bethany who was his aide. She spoke to Ted and called back immediately and assured me that the flag would be lowered in fifteen minutes! She said that the Senator was calling the Postmaster General and not to worry. For an "average Joe" such as myself to get that kind of attention told me that there was at least one person in Washington with a heart.

Thank you Ted, that will never be forgotten.