West Bloomfield Eagle Scout's Memorial to Firefighters Houses 9/11 Steel

Patch wants to showcase ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Each Greatest Person’s acts of courage, determination, volunteerism and compassion have made a difference and have inspired and energized others to strengthen their communities and improve the lives around them.

This week, we’re highlighting Michael Okorn, a senior.

If you sit close enough to the field at any given West Bloomfield High School varsity football game you might notice one player in particular. Perhaps not the starting quarterback or the most talented player, you might notice the one who addresses his coaches' orders from the field with a shout: "Yes, sir!"

With a desire to serve his country as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, Okorn was sent a letter of assurance from West Point military academy this summer. While he describes it as a "dream come true," Okorn's father, Ed, doesn't find his son's goal far-fetched.

"If you look at the typical profile of a West Point cadet, he’s got it. They’re looking for good team players. They want to see that they’re in a leadership role. He leads from a quiet, look at what I do, he leads by example," said Ed Okorn, a West Bloomfield resident.

Those qualities recently manifest at the 9/11 Okorn had completed his Eagle Scout project – a memorial garden dedicated to all fallen firefighters – there in 2009. Michael never imagined how the fire department would take his idea and run with it as it acquired a piece of steel from the World Trade Center destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks and using it as the centerpiece of the garden.

Michael came up with the memorial garden idea as a tribute to his late grandfather, Albin Lisowski, a fire captain from Cleveland.

"I’m really excited about how much the community got involved and how the fire department got involved," Michael said Sunday. "It's really shocking that it grew this much."

"You do one small project, you do one small act, and it turns into a big project, inspiring other people," said Diane Okorn, Michael's mother.

His dad agreed: "It turns into this cool, organic, community thing. We're very honored."

As for Michael's dream of becoming a military officer, his father said that at first he didn't understand from where it came but now embraces it.

"He's always been steadfast about this idea and we've always encouraged our children to follow their dreams. When he was about 15 or 16 and we saw that he was still serious about it, we said, OK, we're going to do what we can to get you ready for the next step," Ed Okorn said.

Since then, Michael has dedicated himself to academics, athletics and community service. In addition to serving as a captain on the football team and continuing to visit Eagle Scout Troop #160 of Orchard Lake, he maintains a 3.96 grade point average while taking weekend courses at Oakland Community College in Arabic language. On top of that, he's working toward the rank of distinguished expert with the Multi-Lakes Junior Rifle Team from the National Rifle Association in small bore rifle training.

Come spring, he'll begin his third season on the varsity shot put and discus teams.

If you know someone who you think should be featured as Patch's "Greatest Person," email Editor tim.rath@patch.com with your nomination and their contact information.