Following the posthumous Medal of Honor awarded to their son, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, Borough President Fossella chose the couple for their steadfast commitment to not only remember their son but also uplift the community around them while doing so.
They established the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation to support the veteran community.
“You don’t just carry on Michael’s legacy,” said Borough President Fossella. “You do do it with grace, humility, a tradition rooted in just a sense of service for others, and we will never forget Michael’s sacrifice,” said Borough President Fossella.
Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, who served in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, was killed in Afghanistan while protecting a Polish soldier. He was 24-years-old.
As part of the ceremony, the Ollis’ names were unveiled on a plaque in the main lobby of Borough Hall, and a framed portrait of their son was installed in the conference room next to Staten Island’s two previous Medal of Honor recipients, Rev. Lt. Vincent R. Capodanno and Private Joseph F. Merrell Jr.
