Good Samaritan surgical nurse Dawn Esposito recently met with President Obama at an annual remembrance ceremony designed to honor fallen members of the military.
Esposito joined 11 other families at Forth Drum, NY who were also paying tribute to their children that gave their lives to serve in the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division.
Esposito, of Brentwood, lost her son, Sergeant Michael J. Esposito, Jr, who was killed in Afghanistan in March 2004.
Following the ceremony, she exchanged symbolic coins with the President, and according to Good Samaritan, the coin she presented Obama was especially significant:
"Although she received a Presidential coin, Esposito was surprised to hear the President remark that the Challenge Coin she presented to him in memory of her late son and other fallen comrades meant more to him, coming from a mom," the hospital said.
Good Sam also said this is nothing new for Espisito, who frequently organizes events for her son's battalion and helps bereaved families cope with the loss of a loved one.
Following the annual Remembrance Ceremony recently held at Fort Drum for families and past members of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, Dawn Esposito, a surgical nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, exchanged symbolic coins with President Barack Obama. Although she received a Presidential coin, Esposito was surprised to hear the President remark that the Challenge Coin she presented to him in memory of her late son and other fallen comrades meant more to him, coming from a mom.
Esposito was with a group of 11 families welcomed by the President in honor of loved ones lost in service to their country. Her son, Sergeant Michael J. Esposito, Jr., was killed in Afghanistan on March 18, 2004. Esposito has dealt with her grief by helping other bereaved family members of military personnel. She continues to support the soldiers in her son’s brigade, organizing events to raise spirits.
