Salek, who never knew Ollis nor his family, started a Facebook group on April 9 advocating the city to name a ferry in Ollis' honor. After a slow start, her campaign gained traction over Memorial Day weekend, with more than 3,400 now rallying on social media.
"It had 42 likes. My kids liked it. I was a little proud," said Salek, a social worker. "I'm floored that it went from 42 likes in my neighborhood to this. It's amazing."
A change.org petition she later added has more than 3,300 signatures.
"We have a lot of things named after politicians that are alive," she said. "It's OK if you want to disagree. But the reason you can disagree is because Staff Sgt. Ollis gave his life."
There are two Staten Island Ferry boats joining the fleet in 2019, so it's possible both Molinaro and Ollis have a namesake. Schumer himself noted that possibility in a June 3 tweet acknowledging the press the idea had gotten: "Naming a ferry after US hero & Staten Islander Sgt. Ollis is a great idea! Good news is we secured fed$ for 2 boats."
A Staten Island Ferry leaves Manhattan in New York.
Photo Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
Currently, namesakes for Staten Island Ferries vary. They include a former president (John F. Kennedy) and a pair of New York politicians. They also include a local high school football coach, a maritime artist, and a turn-of-the-century photographer.
There is precedent for a heroic local soldier being honored by ferry. Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell, a World War II posthumous-Medal of Honor recipient from Staten Island who died at 18, had a ferry named after him until it was decommissioned in 1982.
Life-saving soldier
On Aug. 28, 2013, Ollis died at the age of 24. He was killed saving Polish officer Lieutenant Lt. Karol Cierpica during a brutal insurgent attack on Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan.
The daytime attack included 10 suicide bombers who breached the post after a car bomb blew a hole through the base's eastern wall. Ollis, Cierpica and a team of Special Forces troops killed eight of them. A ninth was gunned down after he threw a grenade.
When the 10th attacker emerged, Ollis stepped toward him and put himself between Cierpica and the explosion that killed him. Cierpica named his son — born earlier this year — after Michael to honor Ollis, a gesture Ollis' family greatly appreciated. The Army awarded a posthumous Silver Star to Ollis, who served with the 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light) out of Fort Drum, New York. Poland also awarded him an Army Gold Medal, the highest honor it can bestow to a foreign soldier, in part for saving the life of Lieutenant Karol Cierpica.
Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, the godfather to the baby in this photo, poses with family members, including his sister and her baby, and his parents Linda and Robert Ollis.
Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy of Ollis Family
Support at City Hall
When it comes to naming the boats, New York City's Department of Transportation and the Mayor's office will make the final decision, "in the years ahead, with community input," DOT spokeswoman Bonny Tsang said in an email to Army Times.
"The family really should enjoy this wonderful honor today," Oddo said. "I want Mr. Ollis to be alive to see the boat named after his son. He lived to endure the pain."
"The late Staff Sergeant Ollis is a hero, plain and simple. His service is an inspiration to many, and he deserves to be honored by the City and Borough he called home. I absolutely support naming a new ferry after him," the statement read.
Local news outlet Staten Island Live contributed to the chorus after Schumer's announcement with an editorial backing Oddo's sentiment, the same day Salek started the Facebook page.
Oddo, who has been in office for over a year, recalled listening as Ollis's father Robert told the story of his son. He said it was the most poignant moment in his term so far.
"Initially, he was overcome with emotion. You could hear a pin drop in the room. The pride took over," Oddo said. "It would mean so much to a generation of Staten Islanders to have a local hero be honored in this fashion. It's a grassroots movement and hopefully it wins the day when it is all said and done."
