[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 16, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E545-E546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN TRIBUTE TO MATTHEW AND MICHAEL FLOCCO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 2002

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a son and his 
father who exemplify what is best about the United States of America. 
Matthew Flocco who died on September 11, 2001 in service to his country 
at the Pentagon, and his father, Michael Flocco, who has set an example 
for all Americans who love their family and their country.

[[Page E546]]

  On the reconstruction site at the Pentagon, Michael Flocco wears a 
hard hat displaying stickers that read ``Pentagon Renovation Program'' 
and ``Proud to be a Union sheet metal worker.'' Known to his fellow 
sheet-metal workers as a gregarious character, Michael is part of a one 
thousand person team of faithful Americans working to reconstruct the 
Pentagon in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
  But the events that led Michael to assignment at the Pentagon set him 
apart from the workers around him. In fact, for Michael Flocco, 
installing duct-work for the heating and air conditioning systems in 
the Pentagon is not just work, it is part of a healing process and a 
wonderful tribute to his son Matthew.
  Michael and Sheila Flocco raised Matthew, their only child, in 
Newark, Delaware. Matthew, a quiet and reflective young man, was liked 
and respected by all who knew him. Matthew joined the United States 
Navy after graduating from high school in 1998.
  Fully committed to serving his country, Matthew rose to the top of 
his Navy class in meteorology and was quickly spotted by an admiral who 
gave him an important assignment at the Pentagon. As an Aerographer's 
Mate Second Class, Matthew performed important duties at the National 
Ice Center for the Departments of Defense and Transportation. He used 
his expertise as a weather analyst to safeguard ships traveling in ice-
covered waters.
  But in a tragic twist of fate, this young American's bright future 
was cut short on September 11th, 2001, during the terrorist attack on 
the Pentagon. Matthew was only 21 years old.
  When the news of their only son's death reached Sheila and Michael 
Flocco, they were devastated.
  But Michael, a third generation sheet metal worker, knew exactly what 
he had to do. Working on the construction of the new courthouse in 
Wilmington, Michael approached his superiors and requested a transfer 
to the Pentagon rebuilding project.
  In January 2002, Michael pulled his 24-foot recreational vehicle into 
a Maryland R.V. park. Now, the man who lost his son less than ten 
months ago rises at 4:00 a.m. every day, throws on his brown jacket 
with ``Floc,'' his nickname, scrawled in permanent marker on the back, 
and heads to work with one thing in mind. Michael Flocco is determined 
to, as he says, ``fill that hole in the wall and fill that hole in my 
heart.''
  Michael plans to continue working on the rebuilding project through 
September 11th, 2002, a date that marks the one year anniversary of his 
son's death, as well as a formal reopening ceremony of the Pentagon. 
Michael Flocco's response to his son's death is an inspiration to every 
American.
  Today we are here to pay tribute to a son and his father; We are here 
to recognize an outstanding example of dedication to the United States 
of America; We are here to honor the best character of Americans--
refusal to be defeated in the face of tremendous adversity.
  We are here today to dedicate this field, which forever will be a 
symbol of Matthew's love for baseball and love for America.

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