Southern Ute Drum - Southern Ute Indian Tribe

October 23, 2009
Mahni-gey-knee (5)
Remembrance
So. Utes, Veterans Gather In Remembrance Of Soldiers
A Hero To Us All
Army Spc. Michael Patrick
Scusa was born on October 5,
1986 to George Scusa and
Cindy Woodyard. Michael grew
up in Villas, New Jersey where
he graduated from Lower Cape
May High School in 2005.
Right after graduation, Michael
enlisted in the United States
Army. After boot camp,
Michael was stationed at Fort
Carson, Colorado Springs.
While stationed there, he met
the love of his life, Alyssa
Mann, and they dated for 2
years.
October 2006, Michael was
deployed to Iraq as a Cavalry
Scout and for what was to be a
year deployment, turned into
15 months. While he returned
for R&R, Michael and Alyssa
discussed marriage and did
their paperwork before
Michael returned back to duty.
Their marriage became reality
on May 9th, 2007. Michael
finally came home on
December 31, 2007 from a
long hard tour.
September 19, 2008,
Michael and Alyssa welcomed
their baby boy, Connor Allen
Scusa. From cutting the umbilical
cord and the first hours of
his life, Michael never left his
son’s side. He was the proudest
father. Connor’s middle
name, Allen, was for one of
Michael’s best friends who
was killed in action while they
were in Iraq.
Michael and Alyssa spent
every day as one little happy
family, experiencing married
life, parenting and building a
life together. They bought a
house in Fountain, Colorado a
few minutes from Ft. Carson.
Michael deployed to
Afghanistan in May 2009. It
was a somber, teary eyed
goodbye, but we all knew in
our hearts he would return to
us alive and well. But that was
not the case come October 3,
2009.
Michael touched everyone’s
hearts even if knowing him
for an hour or a lifetime. He
truly enjoyed life being out on
the firing range, watching his
sci-fi movies or out on the
lakeside fishing. He was a
proud soldier that believed in
what he was doing. He will be
so truly missed and will forever
be embedded in our
hearts and memories forever.
He was a great fun loving
man, wonderful husband, a
devoted father, among many
other roles, but most of al, he
was a brave unselfish soldier
and a hero to all.
Family members; Misty Jefferson-Yackytooahnipah, Tileta
Jefferson-Cook, and Dr, James Jefferson attended a ceremony of
remembrance for Army Spc. Michael Patrick Scusa and his fallen
comrades who lost their lives in Afghanistan. The Southern
Ute Veterans Association held the ceremony in Veterans
Memorial Park at 9:00 am on Wednesday, October 14, 2009.
photos Jeremy Wade Shockley/SU DRUM
Southern Ute Tribal Council members Barbara Scott-Rarick,
Marge Borst, and Ramona Eagle each expressed their sympathies
and offered condolences to the family. Members of our
local drum groups sang honor songs,Veteran Ronnie Baker performed
“Taps”, and Veteran Jim Lynch struck a cord on his bagpipes
in remembrance of those who lost their lives for our country.
Family member BJ Webster and his wife Stella Webster were
also in attendance. VSO - Rod Grove, said some words in honor
of their fallen Comorade, as did other members of Veterans
Association. The honor ceremony was held under blue skies
and received a strong attendance from the community.