Michael Harrigan
As we all gather here with our hearts filled with sorrow,
and our eyes filled with tears,
we must remember the person Mike Harrigan was.
Mike was a true gift from God,
his personality, and loyal friendship is how you can define
such an individual like Mike.
From day one, Mike and I connected, in a way that is unexplainable,
When our friends or myself were with Mike,
you could feel the positive energy and power he gave off.
You were never worried, because no matter what happened,
he would have your back or make everything seem OK.
Mike could turn a miserable or never ending day,
into a day of straight laughter.
One of my favorite traits Mike had,
has to be how he could mock or make fun of anyone or anything.
If he were making fun of you, it would bring a smile to your face,
because he was just so damn funny.

The words he used, like "hangout son" "dudeman" "herb"
"do the rights" "yeah OK" "your grimy"
are memorable sayings that Mike started, and now everybody uses.
That's how much of a leader Mike was.
He did whatever and said whatever he wanted,
not worrying about what anyone thought.
I think he took it a little far when he wore capris,
at least that's what I thought, but he didn't care.

Mike came to the town of Middletown, not knowing a single sole,
and left being one of the most respected and known people in this town.
All the sayings I talked about are legendary now.
He touched so many of our lives, in so many different ways.
As I am writing this,
one of our good friends is getting a remembrance tattoo to honor Mike.
That is how strong the love is, that people have for Mike.

I will never forget the time Mike jumped over the fence,
to get on the sidelines at my state championship football game.
He jumped over twice,
the first time to give me a hug for scoring the winning touchdown.
There were only a couple of minutes left in the game,
and I fumbled the football, which indeed the other team recovered it.
I felt terrible when that happened, I was so down and Mike could see that,
that's why he jumped back over the fence to give me another hug.
And tell me that it doesn't matter if we won or lost,
because I was the man anyway.
That made me feel so much better when he told me that,
It didn't make him feel any better,
because he ripped his 80 dollar jeans jumping the fence.
There aren't many people that would go out of their way to make you feel better,
Mike was one of the people that would though.

Mike as I come to a closure on this,
I would like to ask you to still have my back, and guide me through my life.
If you were here Mike, I know you would want me to tell your mother, father,
Bianca, and little brother Marc, you loved them.
And tell Bianca to live a fun and good life and to try very hard in school.
Mike we know you will be watching over and guiding us from your seat in heaven,
until that day we are united with you again.
I Love You Mike,
And I Will Never Forget You, Jigga
Love,
Brendan Kennedy

As read beautifully,the last night of Mike's wake 4/23/02