The Office of Staten Island Borough President
03/31/2026 | Press release | Archived content
Bob and Linda Ollis Receive the Albert V. Maniscalco Award For Upholding Legacy Of Hero Son, Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis
Borough President Vito Fossella honored Robert and Linda Ollis as the 2025 recipients of the Albert V. Maniscalco Community Service Award during a small gathering in Borough Hall.
Following the posthumous Medal of Honor awarded to their son, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, Borough President Fossella chose the couple for their steadfast commitment to not only remember their son but also uplift the community around them while doing so.
They established the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation to support the veteran community.
"You don't just carry on Michael's legacy," said Borough President Fossella. "You do do it with grace, humility, a tradition rooted in just a sense of service for others, and we will never forget Michael's sacrifice," said Borough President Fossella.
Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, who served in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, was killed in Afghanistan while protecting a Polish soldier. He was 24-years-old.
As part of the ceremony, the Ollis' names were unveiled on a plaque in the main lobby of Borough Hall, and a framed portrait of their son was installed in the conference room next to Staten Island's two previous Medal of Honor recipients, Rev. Lt. Vincent R. Capodanno and Private Joseph F. Merrell Jr.
Following the posthumous Medal of Honor awarded to their son, Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, Borough President Fossella chose the couple for their steadfast commitment to not only remember their son but also uplift the community around them while doing so.
They established the SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation to support the veteran community.
"You don't just carry on Michael's legacy," said Borough President Fossella. "You do do it with grace, humility, a tradition rooted in just a sense of service for others, and we will never forget Michael's sacrifice," said Borough President Fossella.
Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, who served in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division, was killed in Afghanistan while protecting a Polish soldier. He was 24-years-old.
As part of the ceremony, the Ollis' names were unveiled on a plaque in the main lobby of Borough Hall, and a framed portrait of their son was installed in the conference room next to Staten Island's two previous Medal of Honor recipients, Rev. Lt. Vincent R. Capodanno and Private Joseph F. Merrell Jr.
The Office of Staten Island Borough President published this content on March 31, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 06, 2026 at 17:00 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]