118 months into your precious life … 118 months gone today.
Last weekend we walked for you. Morgan’s Gainz. This was our 10th year of walking (2017–2026). Well, minus one year due to my medical fiasco. We even held your walk during COVID with images of us stretched out so many feet apart.
The group has gotten smaller through the years, but we still walk. This year, it was approximately 4.5 miles along the banners that are up around town — including yours. We walked with love, friendship, and purpose. Ten years of carrying your name forward. Ten years of carrying and remembering so many others lost to suicide (military & non-military alike). Every flag. Every step. Every person who showed up. It all matters.
And now we’re into October — your birthday month. October 15, 1996. The day you came into this world. A date that will always be yours.
But October has never been just about your birthday. Your brother Logan’s birthday is October 25, 1992. Two brothers, four years apart, sharing the same birthday month. One here, one gone far too soon. I will always celebrate the son I have here while carrying the son I lost with me.
Today is Debo’s heavenly birthday, too! So I hope you’re both up there playing ball, talking shit, laughing, and giving everyone else a hard time. 😂 I hope you’re celebrating him today.
And later this month comes the 5th annual Morgan Daly Memorial Manitowoc Chiefs Character Award — another opportunity to honor you for the person you were and all the different pieces that made you Morgan. The athlete, the coach, the student, the son, the brother, the friend, the Marine — but beyond all of those titles, just you. The person who was loved, who mattered, and who left a piece of himself with so many people.
October is a lot. As well as the months to follow. Holidays … and the first.
Birthdays. Memories. Missing you. Celebrating both you and Logan. Remembering Debo.
Oh, and Duke’rs turns 10 tomorrow, and he’ll have been here with me for three years on the 5th! ❤️ Besides his nasty jowl shoelaces getting stuck all over tarnation 😂 — I think you would’ve really enjoyed this big guy!
And Dakota is tying the knot, Morgan! I know you would have had something to say about that. 😂 Another big moment happening without you here to see it.
So much life happening around us. So many moments I wish you were here to see. So many things I would rather tell you face to face than speaking into the air.
And somehow, you are still woven into all of it.
Happy birthday month, Morgan. ❤️
Happy birthday month, Logan. ❤️
Still walking. Still carrying your name. Still missing you.
I love you.
I miss you.
You should be here.
MoM
