Senator Owen H. Johnson joined with Islip Town officials on January 26, 2012 at the MacArthur Airport to honor fallen Navy SEAL Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy. Lt. Murphy lost his life at age 29 during a bitter firefight with the Taliban in the mountains of Afghanistan on June 28, 2005.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy’s parents, Dan and Maureen Murphy, and brother John Murphy of Patchogue, accepted the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award on Michael’s behalf.
The ceremony included remarks from Lt. Murphy’s family and Islip Town Supervisor Croci as well as a video that chronicled the mission and sacrifices of Lt. Murphy and his fellow Navy SEALS.
Senator Johnson said, “As we honor Lt. Michael Murphy for his heroic deeds in Afghanistan, I am humbled by his acts of bravery and his selfless leadership. He has given the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom. I offer his family my deepest condolences for their loss.”
The General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award is annually presented by the Town of Islip to an individual who has demonstrated the leadership qualities WW II General Douglas MacArthur exemplified, including moral courage, dedication to duty, self-sacrifice, and vision. Past recipients of the award include Captain Lou Delli-Pizzi of the 69th Infantry Regiment; Tommy Teufel, a Suffolk Police Officer; and the late Steve Clark, who founded the 9-1-1 Veterans Charity.
Photograph from left to right: Senator Owen H. Johnson with the family of Lt. Michael P. Murphy; brother John Murphy; and parents Maureen and Dan Murphy.
