Vito Fossella: “John Kelly was a young man, 31 years old, who grew up in the Oakwood section of Staten Island, attended high school…”

“John Kelly was a young man, 31 years old, who grew up in the Oakwood section of Staten Island, attended high school there, was a parishioner at Lady Star of the Sea in Huguenot, had a wonderful wife, also a police officer with the New York City Police Department. John, after graduating, fulfilled his desire like so many of his family members, his brothers Thomas, James and Daniel, as well as other family members, to go become a New York City police officer. He did that for 8½ years. He had two beautiful children, a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old. He had his whole life ahead of him, until yesterday. This decorated New York City police officer was killed while he was doing his job protecting the people of New York City and specifically the people of Staten Island. He is the third police officer to die in the last 3 years in Staten Island alone, adding to the list of hundreds of others who have given their life for their country and for the community. So now a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old grow up without a father. Patricia, with our prayers, along with her family, will live on.…”