I would have to say that a son who looks at his father and strives to reach the morals and values he has set is rare these days. Many people look up to athletes, actors and musicians as people they desire to be. Although these people are great entertainers, none of them could ever receive the kind of admiration I have for my father, Robert Condela.

Robert is a father of six proud children and one adoring granddaughter. Through his hard work and sacrifice he has sent five of his children to college with one daughter still in high school. Through the years the most important message my father has taught me is that family comes first. His commitment to his family goes unmatched. Whether it be volunteering his time as a soccer coach or rushing from the train station just to make sure he caught a band concert or a lacrosse game, his efforts never went unnoticed. Having his own brother die at the age of 20 I think my father realized early on in life that you can never take family for granted.

As if raising six children while working in Manhattan nearly 10 hours a day is not enough, my father has donated hundreds of hours as a volunteer throughout this community. For nearly two decades he has volunteered his time on both the Island Trees School Board and the Island Trees Soccer Club. Many of those years were spent as the vice president or president. My father would get off the train at 7 p.m. so he could rush to a meeting at 8 p.m. Many of these nights he would not return home until after 10 p.m. It was not until I got older that I realized this was a volunteer job. I had a hard time understanding why he would dedicate so much time for something you are not paid for. I realized as I grew up it was because Robert Condela cares about the community his family lives in.

My father is also a Vietnam veteran. While up in the attic one day my mother came across several medals in a box. Being the humble man he is, my father had never spoken of them. In fact, we would have probably never known their significance if we did not stumble upon them. The award I am most in awe of and feel fits my father best is the Bronze Star. According to its definition, the Bronze Star is awarded to any person who, while serving in the Army of the United States distinguishes himself by heroic or meritorious achievement in connection with military operations against an armed enemy. I finally got to read the letter that accompanied the medal, so that I could understand what my father had done. On the night of June 12, 1969 after his Company was hit by a rocket and mortar barrage, my father had moved up ahead of his men to a position where he could best be able to view the enemy. He was then able to direct his men where to fire with such accuracy that an impending attack was thwarted. With complete disregard for his personal safety he called in a rocket to within 10 meters of his position making a concentrated enemy attack impossible.

Robert Condela is a man who has showed his son that dedication, commitment, sacrifice and love are values and morals which are far more valuable than fame and fortune. His relentless commitment to making his family and community a better place is something that I hold in the highest regard. The path that my father has paved is one that I am trying to walk down.

Michael Condela