Sunday, August 19, 2007
By EVELYN SHIH
STAFF WRITER
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, firefighters from several towns, and the Carlstadt community gathered Saturday to honor fallen Marine Michael Schwarz one more time. [Schwarz, pictured left, courtesy of militarycity.com]Lance Cpl. Schwarz, who died from a sniper attack in Iraq last November at the age of 20, was a Carlstadt native and a member of the Fire Department along with his father, Ken, and older brother, Frank. Firetrucks were lined up around the block and about 70 people gathered at Memorial Park as the VFW added a plaque in his honor to the town's small war memorial monument.
"We hope that's the last one," said Umberto Antoniotti, the chairman of VFW Post 3149 who had the plaque made.
Schwarz's name joined that of Sgt. Frank T. Carvill, another Iraq war veteran, and Carlstadt natives who died in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and at the Pentagon on Sept. 11. Pamela Schwarz, mother of the honored Marine, said the turnout didn't surprise her. "Most of them were at the memorial" last year, she said. "That's the kind of community we belong to. They don't forget."
Army Spec. Gary Colombo, a childhood friend who came home in July, was shocked to hear of Schwarz's death last November while Colombo was stationed in California. It was the first time someone so close to him had died in Iraq. Colombo, who also served in Iraq, came back for the memorial for the boy who had lived around the corner from him and joined the Marines in 11th grade, at the same time that he joined the Army.
After the dedication, Colombo lingered by the plaque with his friend's name. "I knew there was going to be a lot of people," he said. "Everyone knew him. He was the kind of all-round guy that could be friends with everyone, and it didn't matter who."
It's been an emotional time for the Schwarz family. Less than two weeks ago, the VFW contacted them about dedication. And on Aug. 9, they celebrated what would have been Michael's 21st birthday.
"He wanted to be 21 and have a drinking party," said Pamela Schwarz. "He couldn't wait. Hopefully he's having one upstairs."
To celebrate for him, the Schwarz family brought a birthday cake made of flowers and balloons to his grave. His friends brought beer, and everyone toasted the soldier.
"We put down some cards, had a little visit, said a prayer, told him happy birthday, and left," said Colombo, tearing up.
But he made no apologies for his emotion.
"Real men cry," he said.
E-mail: shih@northjersey.com
Copyright © 2007 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
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