She asked me if I'd consider speaking.
I didn't have to think twice.
For Tonia, I'd do just about anything.
The following is my speech from last nights JHS Senior Awards.
It was a true honor to speak about our Leo and to announce the name of the young man who shares so many of Leo's attributes.
Congratulations, Andrew Watret! It was a pleasure meeting you.
Leo Alfano Memorial Scholarship Award
What an incredible night for parents and JHS seniors!
With graduation approaching, the future is bright and the possibilities are endless.
No one anticipates tragedies in the face of such promise.
Unfortunately, they happen.
In a split second.
For us, it's been nearly four years now.
July 18, 2013 our world forever changed.
This graduating class may be one of the last to remember Leo Alfano. Some of your older brothers may have played soccer with him or your older siblings might have graduated at the same time. Or, maybe you know his sister, Filie, or his brother, Peter.
Those of us who love Leo never expected to be giving a Memorial Scholarship in his name.
There's no way we could have.
His personality was so large and full of life that we all imagined many years with him; laughing with him; loving him.
Sometimes life doesn't turn out the way we'd planned.
I didn't have to think twice.
For Tonia, I'd do just about anything.
The following is my speech from last nights JHS Senior Awards.
It was a true honor to speak about our Leo and to announce the name of the young man who shares so many of Leo's attributes.
Congratulations, Andrew Watret! It was a pleasure meeting you.
Leo Alfano Memorial Scholarship Award
What an incredible night for parents and JHS seniors!
With graduation approaching, the future is bright and the possibilities are endless.
No one anticipates tragedies in the face of such promise.
Unfortunately, they happen.
In a split second.
For us, it's been nearly four years now.
July 18, 2013 our world forever changed.
This graduating class may be one of the last to remember Leo Alfano. Some of your older brothers may have played soccer with him or your older siblings might have graduated at the same time. Or, maybe you know his sister, Filie, or his brother, Peter.
Those of us who love Leo never expected to be giving a Memorial Scholarship in his name.
There's no way we could have.
His personality was so large and full of life that we all imagined many years with him; laughing with him; loving him.
Sometimes life doesn't turn out the way we'd planned.
“For every dark night, there's a brighter day.”
That quote was one of Leo's favorites and he wore it, proudly, as a tattoo on his ribs.
While the Alfano family wants you to know they would love to be giving this award themselves, the emotions of talking about their son...their brother...becomes too much.
And so, here I am.
If you knew Leo, you won't ever forget him.
He grew up, along with one of my sons, as another child in our family.
Actually, I think our son would have rather been an Alfano. He spent so much time there at their house that you would have thought he was.
Leo loved life.
He loved his family.
He loved his friends.
He lived life to the fullest.
He lived in the moment.
What we've all learned since Leo was taken from us is that there is a 'brighter day,' even in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
While the Alfano family wants you to know they would love to be giving this award themselves, the emotions of talking about their son...their brother...becomes too much.
And so, here I am.
If you knew Leo, you won't ever forget him.
He grew up, along with one of my sons, as another child in our family.
Actually, I think our son would have rather been an Alfano. He spent so much time there at their house that you would have thought he was.
Leo loved life.
He loved his family.
He loved his friends.
He lived life to the fullest.
He lived in the moment.
What we've all learned since Leo was taken from us is that there is a 'brighter day,' even in the face of unspeakable tragedy.
Those of you sitting in the audience tonight share many of the same attributes that our Leo had. Whether or not you knew him, you ARE him, in your own way.
You're intelligent, you're talented, you're ready to set out on your next great adventure, and you will make a difference in this world.
None of us knows what the future holds but the mere fact you're among this select group of award winners tells me you are well on your way to finding out.
You're the hope for the future.
“For every dark night, there's a brighter day.”
Reading thru the many applications for this scholarship, the committee was struck by how any one could and should be awarded this scholarship. That speaks volumes! Many of you plan to go on to higher education and already have an idea of your career plans and goals.
Keep going! Even when times get tough...and they may.
We could all learn a lot from Leo...live in the moment, love your family and your friends, and be true to who you are. Everything else will fall into place like it should.
“For every dark night, there's a brighter day.”
The sun is shining on this graduating class of 2017.
Never hesitate to walk into that sunlight.
You're intelligent, you're talented, you're ready to set out on your next great adventure, and you will make a difference in this world.
None of us knows what the future holds but the mere fact you're among this select group of award winners tells me you are well on your way to finding out.
You're the hope for the future.
“For every dark night, there's a brighter day.”
Reading thru the many applications for this scholarship, the committee was struck by how any one could and should be awarded this scholarship. That speaks volumes! Many of you plan to go on to higher education and already have an idea of your career plans and goals.
Keep going! Even when times get tough...and they may.
We could all learn a lot from Leo...live in the moment, love your family and your friends, and be true to who you are. Everything else will fall into place like it should.
“For every dark night, there's a brighter day.”
The sun is shining on this graduating class of 2017.
Never hesitate to walk into that sunlight.
Live life like Leo did.
On behalf of Sam, Tonia, Peter, and Filie Alfano, I'm honored to announce this years Leo Alfano Memorial Scholarship award winner is Andrew Watret."
It is what it is.
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It is what it is.
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