BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP
Staff Writer
The war in the Middle East has united two local families who otherwise may never have known each other.
The relatives of Andrew Miller, 23, of Flushing, N.Y., and John Fitzsimons, 21, of Freehold Borough, came together on June 28 at a Millstone family’s home in honor of the two American troops currently serving in Iraq. Although they had never met prior to that day, relatives of both servicemen are now like family, according to MaryAnn Afflitto, who helped her daughters organize the event.
Milan, 9, and Aviana, 7, miss Miller – their favorite cousin – so much that they put a huge banner with his picture on it in front of their house and threw the party in his honor. They invited their family to the event, along with their third- and fifth-grade friends.
“We had about 40 kids signing the banner to wish him well,” MaryAnn said.
She said the girls put the party together because their family has been heartbroken since Miller shipped off to Kuwait three weeks ago. They have yet to hear from him since his departure, and the only comfort the family can conjure up is that he trained to work in air traffic control, which could place him at an airport rather than on the front lines in Iraq.
With her own son, Fitzsimons, in Iraq, Annette Costa, of Freehold Borough, knows how hard Miller’s family has it. Fitzsimons has been in Iraq since January, she said, and is expected home sometime in October.
Costa and her family attended the party to show support to Miller’s family in their time of need. She also wants to form a local support group for families with loved ones who are serving active duty overseas.
“I’m interested in getting a few parents together to talk and to comfort one another,” she said. “We would talk about what we’re all going through. It would be nice to meet other parents.”
Although Costa went to the Afflittos’ home to show support, she felt comforted by attending.
“I thought it was a beautiful thing because I just feel kind of like people are forgetting that they are over there,” Costa said. “We have to keep them in our thoughts and not forget that they are there, no matter if you think the cause is just or not.
“They are risking their lives for us,” Costa continued, “and people should say thank you or just pray that they get home safe and soon.”
Costa brought the Lamaruggine family to the party with her. The Lamaruggines said their cousin, John, is a favorite, who would take them out on motorcycle rides, play loud music and show them a good time.
Angela Lamaruggine, 11, of Freehold Borough, said, “John, I miss you very much, and I hope you come back soon. I love you, and I want you to be careful and to be safe.”
The Lamaruggines have had a chance to talk to their cousin, mostly via e-mail. They said he gave them Iraqi money and told them about wild dogs that live in the desert in the Middle East. He also told them about giving candy to the kids near his station and losing a friend in a bus bombing.
“It’s really sad because I really miss him and all of the people there,” Antoinette Lamaruggine, 12, said. “We want them to be safe and not die. We all really miss them, and we hope they come back safely, with no bruises.”
Miller’s mother, Chris, had similar sentiments for her son, whom she described as outgoing, fun and friendly, making him a favorite among the kids in her family.
Milan said, “Every time I see him, he loves to dance. He takes everyone out on the dance floor and starts dancing with them.”
She added, “I miss him and want him to come back safe.”
Both families related that they are nervous about the conditions where their relatives are stationed and that they initially had doubts about their military service altogether. However, Miller’s grandmother, Madeline Misiti, of Brooklyn, N.Y., said, “He’s doing just what he wants. He wants to be there.”
Costa said her son wants to be in Iraq, too, and has been interested in serving in the military since he was a child.
“He’s a determined person,” she said, “and when he gets the need to do something, he does it. There’s no stopping him.”
Despite personal feelings about the war, Costa said she hopes people in general remember to support the troops who eagerly await letters and care packages from back home.
During the party, the Afflittos raised almost $500 worth of phone cards for Miller’s battalion.
“It was so great,” MaryAnn Afflitto said. “The kids and their parents were so generous.”
She said Milan and Aviana can’t wait for their cousin to come home to see the banner they had everyone at the party sign. The banner will hang out in front of the Afflitto home until Miller is able to retrieve it himself.
Miller’s aunt said she is happy to see so many people slowing down in front of her house so they can read the banner.
“I’m glad that they’re taking the time to read it because it’s something positive and not something tragic, which we so often see related to this war,” she said.
Miller is expected to return home in March.
For more information about Costa’s support group, e-mail [email protected].