The Office of Staten Island Borough President
07/23/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Heartlfelt Message From Military Mom
Rita Bueti still brought to tears when recalling how Borough President Vito Fossella helped her son during his deployment to Kuwait.
Her son, Michael, joined the Marines because "he wanted to support his country and fight for his country," but he quickly became depressed "because everybody was against the war."
While in Congress, he arranged a video call for families of the men and women serving overseas to talk about both their pride in their children and their fears.
In the middle, Michael called his mom and asked, "what are we doing here, why am I here, I never should have come."
Then Congressman-Fossella overheard the conversation and asked if he could speak to Michael.
"He took the phone, walked away and when he came back, he gave me the phone and my son was very appreciative that he spoke to him," said Rita who ran into Vito at Disability Pride Month on Tuesday at the College of Staten Island. "I do believe you saved my son's life because my son was very depressed. After the phone call, my son was much better. So, I want to thank Vito Fossella for doing that and always being very supportive of the military families and the developmentally disabled because I know he does a lot for them, as well."
We thank Michael for his service to our country.
Her son, Michael, joined the Marines because "he wanted to support his country and fight for his country," but he quickly became depressed "because everybody was against the war."
While in Congress, he arranged a video call for families of the men and women serving overseas to talk about both their pride in their children and their fears.
In the middle, Michael called his mom and asked, "what are we doing here, why am I here, I never should have come."
Then Congressman-Fossella overheard the conversation and asked if he could speak to Michael.
"He took the phone, walked away and when he came back, he gave me the phone and my son was very appreciative that he spoke to him," said Rita who ran into Vito at Disability Pride Month on Tuesday at the College of Staten Island. "I do believe you saved my son's life because my son was very depressed. After the phone call, my son was much better. So, I want to thank Vito Fossella for doing that and always being very supportive of the military families and the developmentally disabled because I know he does a lot for them, as well."
We thank Michael for his service to our country.