Farewell Salute Held For Fallen Soldier

Friday night dozens of people gathered to honor a local soldier killed in Afghanistan.

Family and friends filled Apollo Ridge High School’s football stadium to say goodbye to 2nd Lt. Michael Girdano.

Girdano graduated from Apollo Ridge in 2003.

“Having him around, I guess you could say he was always the life of the party. A room just brightened anytime he was around,” said his roommate, 2nd Lt. Andrew Morgan.

Girdano was a captain on the Apollo Ridge football team.

After he graduated high school, he went to study at West Point Military Academy.

On Aug. 21, 2008, Girdano was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border.

Family members said Girdano would be touched by the huge amount of community support.

“Football was a part of his life. He’d be so pleased to see all the people that came out to see him,” said his cousin, Stephanie Girdano.