Michael A. Estrella Obituary

Scratchy is in our hearts and in our thoughts daily

I'm sending my condolences to the family of Michael Estrella, sorry for your loss. Micah 4:3,4

To the family and friends of Cpl. Michael A. Estrella:
It has truly been my honor to sign Michael's guest book these past few years. Unfortunately, due to complications from my Multiple Sclerosis, this may be the last message I'm able to write. Please forgive me and know that Michael will always be remembered in my home.
With love and respect ~ Peggy

Thank you Mike for your sacrifice. We remain in your debt for your service & sacrifice.

To the family and friends of Cpl. Michael A. Estrella:
Always remembering Michael. "Some gave all."

NEVER to be forgotten Cpl Estrella. GOd Bless you and your family.

To the family and friends of Cpl. Michael A. Estrella:
Please accept my remembrance of Michael on the anniversary of his passing and know that he will never be forgotten.

I think of you every day and miss you brother, you were a true Marine. I know your in a better place watching over us all now but we all miss you. To your family, i wish you some peace and me & family prayers go out to you, you have a Wondeful man in Estrella, he was a good & dear friend of mine and he may be gone but NEVER FORGOTTEN, R.I.P. Brother, i see u again 1 day. We all love you

To the family and friends of Cpl. Michael A. Estrella:
Remembering Michael on the anniversary of his passing. May our fallen heroes never be forgotten!
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

To the family of Cpl. Michael A. Estrella:
Michael gave the ultimate sacrifice and will be held in the hearts of Americans forever. I cannot and will not let our fallen heroes be forgotten. My deepest sympathy to you. "Some gave all."
Peggy Childers
"Don't Let The Memory Of Them Drift Away"
www.IraqWarHeroes.org

”Honor and Remember” - “Project Compassion” We love our Soldiers! We love our country and we cannot express enough love and compassion to the families of our fallen heroes. War does not discriminate – It breaks our hearts to see the faces of the fallen. We want to give this gift to you. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization! Over 1,450 portraits have been completed and shipped to the parents and or spouse - at no cost as this is a gift from one American to another!
Contact us directly at [email protected] or go to www.heropaintings.com . If you have already had a portrait completed, we pray that you are enjoying the portrait and God Bless You.
Sincerely,
Kenna

Hey you. I miss you so much. I'm so glad I got to see you before you left for Iraq because now my last memory of you is that big ol' smile of yours! You've truely touched everyone around you & i'm so thankful of having the privillage to have met you. I wish you didn't leave so soon but I look forward to the day we meet again. I'm driving to see you on your birthday:) Miss & love you Mike

Holding you all in my thoughts and prayers.


The Wind on The Downs

“I like to think of you as brown and tall,
As strong and living as you used to be,
In khaki tunic, Sam Brown belt and all,
And standing there and laughing down at me.
Because they tell me, dear, that you are dead,
Because I can no longer see your face,
You have not died, it is not true, instead
You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe;
I hear you laughing as you used to do,
Yet loving all the things I think of you;
And knowing you are happy, should I grieve?
You follow and are watchful where I go.”

(Written by Marian Allen during World War l )

Two lines that I wish you to keep near your heart…….

“You seek adventure in some other place.
That you are round about me, I believe”


I did not know Michael, but I am remembering
his service. He is my hero. !

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Other Side

i'm over on the other side
where life and death softly divide.
left my skin and bones behind
now i'm over on the other side.

can you feel me there with you?
my breath is gone but i'm not through.
loved you then and i still do
from over on the other side.

i can fly. really fly.
below the earth ... all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

it's good here on the other side.
the sweetest songs...the bluest skies.
thank you for the tears you cried
but it's good here on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth...all through the sky.
tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side

the world is smaller than a needle's eye.
where life and death softly divide.
when you leave your skin and bones behind
i'll be waiting on the other side.

i can fly. really fly. below the earth ... all through the sky.
go tell em all i did not die.
i'm just over on the other side.

Song lyrics by Don Conoscenti
C Desert Muse/SESAC
www.donconoscenti.com
(Used with permission)

“I hope it brings great comfort to any and all.
Peace on you. DonCon” 4-2008


The Other Side –
http://tinyurl.com/3o8gol



Sincerely,

Deb Estep ~ Ohio
Proud Air Force Mom and MIL

Remembering The Fallen – Blog
http://tinyurl.com/3z8p55

Angel and soldier drawing I have shared here.
http://tinyurl.com/6gey8b

You are remembered and respected. Thank you Cpl Estrella!

There is nothing that I can say or do to take away the pain or bring you peace in your time of sorrow, but I will offer you and your family my heart felt condolences. I also offer you my prayers that in time the pain will easy and the memories of your HERO will carry you through each day and night. I want to thank your HERO, for his/her selfless act of becoming a member of the armed forces, his/her willingness to defend the United States of America, all that we hold sacred and for the sacrifice that will forever be etched in the memories of all those who knew him/her. Though tears can never bring him/her back, we hope that our tears express our gratitude for the sacrifice that he/she made and our sorrow at his/her passing. I believe for every fallen HERO there is a star shining brightly up above to remind us of the precious gift we were given.

Your mission on earth is complete and you are now a member of GOD’s Heavenly armed forces. Stand down brave warrior and take your rightful place in Heaven with all the HEROES who have passed before.

I made a special promise to LE RON A. WILSON, a dear family friend who joined the Army with three other friends, one of whom is my son (Le Ron was killed in action on 07/06/07 at the age of 18) on the day he was laid to rest as I touched his coffin, that I would never forget him nor would I forget those that gave their lives for our country before him, with him and after him and so when I came across www.legacy.com, I thought what a great way to keep my promise to Le Ron, so I will continue to leave tributes in each guest book until the day there is no longer the need to leave these tributes to a FALLEN HERO.

REST IN PEACE, HERO, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!

PROUD MOTHER OF A U.S. SOLDIER
Currently stationed in Germany
Althea Barrett(Queens, NY)

It seems just a moment ago you were in our arms. I can still here you calling out my name, hugging us, and laughing. When I see that bright star in the sky, I know its you looking down at us. It is an honor and privelege to call ourselves your parents. you gave us the gift of being a wonderful son who always put his family first. You are the brother who gave each of your five younger siblings the same love and attention they deserved. You were always there... you are the grandson that made your grandparents stand tall and proud to call you theirs... Your are the friend who was always there in the good and the bad. You never left your friends or your Marine brother's alone, you always stood by their side as they stood by yours. Now, you are an Uncle who we will tell your nephew of how you became an American Hero proudly serving his country. You are in our hearts every beat it takes. We miss you and can't imagine life without you. You wrote to us and now we write to you "We love you all the Stars in the World" I miss you, Love you, Mom and Dad, Sasha, Jessica, Ashley, Francisco, Nathan and Adrian

Thank you for the sacrifice made by Cpl Estrella and the sacrifice made by everyone who loves and misses him! May God bless all of you!!

On this Memorial Day 2007, I got an email of the pictures of those who have given their life so that we may live. There were so many pictures to view that I decided to click on the pictures of those who died on my birthday...Michael thank you for serving your country so that we may live. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. You are true modern day hero. Thanks.

A day does not go by in which I am not thinking about you. Thank you for making me a better person. I have come to realize that I am not going to mourn your death, instead I am going to HONOR you by celebrating the person you were. We Love You. Thank you for watching over me while I was still over there. I know you had something to do with me making it home. "To measure the man, measure his heart." -Malcolm Stevenson Forbes. Scrathy's Heart was too big to be measured.

“Paid in Full”
To Honor The Service of Fallen and Injured Marines


Marines through and through, they paid the price
Six thousand miles away, we live the life
For which they paid with their blood, spirits and bodies
We will never forget what they paid in full

We hope and we pray that somehow their loved ones find comfort
In God, in the flag, in the memory of their loved ones’ bravery
They’re gone now but we see them still…proud, strong, willing
Covering each other’s backs… courageous, moving forward

What kind of love did they have for us to be willing
To give it all for the Black, White, Jew, Christian, Muslim?
We don’t comprehend but we honor you now and forever
You are Our Marines…some living…some not
Forever in our hearts we will cherish your lives

Lives too short yet immortal they’ll be
Highest brotherhood of the Few, the Proud
They stand at attention, and we gaze with awe
Some know their names not, but our admiration for them
Flows limitless within us, between us

They sacrificed their limbs or their lives
Freedom still rings, a soft sound across the miles
It tolls slowly; all of creation takes note
Of the lives that were lost for people unknown

Out of sight but not lost; forever among us
The starched blues marching straight
Toward the place where we will meet them
Many years from now…how we loved them…
Well done beloved Brothers and Sisters…You’ve paid it in full
Always Faithful Marines, You Have Paid it in Full

Eternity seems so close when you have just lost your son. He was just here! But heaven is still just that close, and the hope of it is a little sweeter now because Michael is there. May the hope of your reunion one day be the spark that now compels you to go forward, for every day brings you closer to that reunion. May you sense the heart of God sharing your grief and filling the void left by your loss of Michael.

Nina

I just wanted to say that not one day micheal is not in my mind. memories keep coming back when we were younger. I truly miss him very much. I pray for you, my nino and kids everyday.

micheal you wont ever be forgotten.

Hello,

Although, I do not know you or you family, my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I lost a cousin in Iraq 2 years ago. May you find peace in the Lord during your difficult time. God Bless Always.... Familia Maldonado

TO Michael's family- you really raised a treasure. I hope you find comfort in his memory.

Michael, rest in peace. Thank you for your sacrifice.

Maria and Family,

Ever since you came to the office and informed us about Michael I have not been able to get you and your family out of my mind. I cannot even imagine the pain and anguish you must feel and can only express my deepest sympathies. I felt that I did know him after all those years of talking about our boys in the office .... Please know that Michael and your family will always be in my prayers. I know you are so proud of the sacrifice he made for this country. I can now say that I know a of true American hero... Michael Estrella.

Dear Estrella Family, our family's thoughts and prayers go out to you at this most difficult time. We are so sorry to hear of the loss of your brave and handsome son, Michael. Words can never comfort a mother's broken heart but please know that our tears are falling for you. With deepest sympathy and appreciation, the Morin-Nolda Family.

To the Estrella Family: Like your son, mine chose military service right after graduation from Hemet High School (1996) and serves in the US Navy today. Like you, that act changed my life, and, while I became very anxious about his safety, I appreciated his selflessness more with each passing year. A few years ago when he received his commission at the US Naval Academy, he coined a phrase for himself which is a perfect way to remember Michael: "Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it." Your son had that courage and we are grateful. You raised a fine boy and have much to be proud of, even in your sorrow. Now, when we raise our flags on June 14, Flag Day, you will know we are remembering and honoring your beloved son. May the Lord bless you and watch over you always ...

To the Estrella family, Even though we have never met, I feel I have known you for a long time. My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your son, Michael. I had read about Michael in the newspaper and last night I saw you and your family on one of the news channels. We cried with you. My family and I are very grateful for his service to our country and to us. I know you love him so very much, and I pray that you will stay strong for each other. I hope that we can stay in touch...our youngest son leaves in a short time for the area your Michael was in. God be with you.

dear sasha,

I am terribly sorry to hear about your brother. He was someone i really looked up to during my years in rotc. may god watch over his soul.

To the Estrella family: I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your son Michael. Our son Chris was

also killed. He died on June 20, 2006. To say the loss is devasting

cannot even begin to describe our grief. I hope you have been surrounded by friends and family and

have been supported by prayer. We

are now family since our sons were

brothers. Please know that we are

available any time.

Love Kath & Jim Leon

Thank you all for your expressions of sympathy. We will always remember and we greatly appreaciate you. Please view the photo gallery. We love you Michael with all of our hearts. You have always been a great son and inspiration you will truly be missed but not forgotten. You brought us great joy and happiness to our lives. Love you little one!! Until we see you agian Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters.

Paco&Maria: My deepest condolences go out to you and your family.I had the pleasure of meeting Michael when he was a young boy.It's great to know that he became a man of courage and honor. Richard, Robert and Ruben will always keep their uncle Michael in their prayers and remeber him as hero.

We are all very proud of you!! You were such a great person and a brave Marine. You were always looking for differnt ways to help people and the ones you loved. I will always love you and you will always be in my heart. You are my HERO!! Thank you for everything, for the unforgetable memories you have left me with, but most of all thank you for being who you are. You were always there for me no matter where or how far you were, I always knew I could count on you. You touched my life and the life of many others in such ways that words themselves can not describe. I know that now you are in a better place watching over me and your loved ones. One day that only God knows I will reunite with you, but until then Clp. Michael Estrella you will forever be missed and you will always be in our hearts my brave soldier! WE LOVE YOU!!!

nina,

to find out that micheal has passed away has been a big surprise to all of us. i dearly miss him so much. i honestly still cant believe that he has left this earth, but one thing does console me : that he is now up in heaven looking down on us. i know that he will help you to be strong and move on.my deepest sympathy goes out to you, the kids and to my nino. I love you and i am praying for you. God Bless You.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS. PLEASE ACCEPT MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES FOR YOUR GREAT LOSS. KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO DO CARE AND YOUR HERO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR TREASURED MEMORIES THAT HIS SPECIAL SMILE MAY CONTINUE TO SHINE ON FOR YOU. I PRAY THAT PEACE WILL FIND YOU ALL SOMEDAY. STAY STRONG AND SEMPER FI.



A PROUD MARINE MOM

To the Estrella Family,

Ive known you and your family since i was a little girl. As you know both Michael and I were always together playing jokes on one another. I would always say too myself that he was the one i was going to marry.Its ashamed that it didn't go as planned.And I didn't get the chance to tell Michael how much i truly loved him. But deep down inside,I think he knew. Once again,Maria,THANK YOU for bringing him into this world and giving me the opportunity to be apart of his life and mine. R.I.P. MICHAEL. I WILL MISS YOU TRULY

Yolanda, I have known you since you were little, and my heart goes out to you. Just know that Michael is looking down on all of you from heaven. GOD Bless all of you!

To the Family of Cpl. Michael A. Estrella;

My heart breaks again as I sign yet another guest book of another courgeous young soldier who gave their life so selflessly. I wish I never found myself in a position to have to sign another guestbook for the rest of my life. We lost a son 12/1/05 and it seems like yesterday.

I know first hand there are no words right now that will bring you the comfort and peace you need. Just know that you are not alone. My heart, thoughts, and prayers are with you all as you mourn this loss. We don't know each other, will probably never meet, but will forever be united in the loss of our Heroes. We have, unfortunately joined a group none of us wanted to join, an ever-growing group of families in this situation. May God grant you peace and strength to get through this and be able once again to smile at a memory rather than have only the tears that flow so easily now. To be so proud of your loved one and so saddened at the same time is a mix of emotions very difficult to deal with. I am sorry that I never knew your soldier personally, but none of these courageous men and women will be forgotten. They will never be able to be replaced, but sometime, someday your loving memories will help to sustain you. This courageous soldier will forever now be your Angel watching over you all for the rest of your lives. It's what brings me some measure of peace and comfort and I hope it will you as well. To his family and friends in pain, I offer this comfort: When you find yourself in that dark sorrowful place, think not only of how you will miss him, but instead recall the years, days, hours and minutes gifted to you by his presence. The one thing that cannot be taken from you is those wonderful memories that now will mean more than ever. If you ever want to talk, I'm only an e:mail away and would love for you to tell me more about your Hero. God Bless this courageous soldier and family.

Pam Adams (SFC Brent Adams, KIA 12/1/05 Ramadi, Iraq)

[email protected]

(Millersville, PA )

My condolences to the Estrella family. I met Michael while serving with him in Afghanistan. So full of life and so loving. A true hero. May God be with you and your family through this challenging time.

Jamie and Victor,

I am so sorry for your tragic loss. I keep you both and your families in my thoughts and prayers.

I am heart broken for you, Michael's family and our loss as a nation. He was so young and he was taken way too soon. I am thinking of you and praying that you find peace. My heart, thoughts and love are with you. Love, Tiffany

Victor and Jamie,

My heart hurts for the both of you and the loss you are experiencing. Victor your nephew gave his life fighting for my freedoms and for that I am eternally greatful.

God Bless

Rosemarie

My condolences to the Estrella family. Michael may you rest in peace. Thank you for making the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. You have earned your golden halo and wings. May you continue to soar in the heavenly clouds up above.

Mike was an amazing friend and someone who greatly influenced my decisions to stay in ROTC and progress in my chain of command. He was an awesome man and will be sorely missed by those of us who knew him but even more so by his family. R.I.P Michael Estrella.

to the Estrella family, i am so sorry for your loss,God needed another hero and called MICHAEL home.please be so proud of him,he was and will always be a hero.Michael may you now find the peace you so bravely fought for SEMPER FI.God bless all of you.a Marine wife and sister viet nam war

Dear Mike, I know this is too late but hopefully you are looking down to see how much you meant to everyone. Thank you for putting yourself in harm's way so all of us can enjoy freedom everyday.

Rest in peace. You earned it, Leatherneck.



"For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.”



USMC 89-95

To the Estrella family and friends. Our hearts of hurting once more for a fallen hero. Thank you for giving us Cpl. Estrella. He has given us the most precious gift, His life for our country. Aguilar, Lueken, Marin, and Yearly are at his side watching over their brothers in Iraq. My son is with 3/3 Marines in Iraq and has been greatly effected by Estrella's death. God Bless you all. Our prayers are with you all.

Estrella Family,

To you our hearts go out. my husband an I both knew Mike through JROTC, and are deeply saddened by this loss of a wonderful person. He will always live forever in our photos and memories of better times. Our prayers are with you...

Dear Estrella, Family,

Even though we have never met I feel as if we are part of a "family". My daughter's fiancee was killed by an IED in Iraq on Oct. 3, 2005. It is my prayer that you will feel God holding you as close to His heart as he has held my family these past months. May you know His comfort and peace as you face the difficult days ahead.

In God's Grace,

My sincere condolences to the family of this brave young Marine.

I am so very sorry for your loss.

Please take comfort in your memories of your beloved Michael, and know that I fly my flag in his honor.

Mom of 2 Marines and widow of a Vietnam Army Ranger.

"No greater love hath any man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend"



Semper Fi

USMC 83-87

The price this Young Soldier and his family paid for this country will never be forgotten... Rest well in the arms of our Precious Lord. And may God's comfort and blessings be with His family.

I am the sister of such a young hero, who made the Ultimate Sacrifice in Vietnam, many years ago.

Romans 8:18

Please accept our deepest sympathy for your loss, prayers that the Lord provide you comfort and peace, and our gratitude for the work, and sacrifice, of your hero. Semper Fi and God Bless.

Rest in peace at your last post in paradise.