BLUE BALLOONS ACROSS THE NATION IN HONOR OF MICHAEL C. EICHLER  / Gay Mike (ex roommate/friend )
Hey Mike,
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Your not just a memory...  / Tara (Friend)
I can't even explain to you Mike how every single time I come to this site or to your myspace it completely breaks my heart.  It is like finding out the news of your passing, breaks me to pieces.  
We have shared so much together, good, bad, and luckily we were on a fairly long good streak when you passed.  If we weren't I don't know what I would do.  It helps me to know that you cared and you were there for me.  What would I have done when my grandma passed away if it wasn't for you calling me up and making me come to dunkin donuts every night like you were the team leader. Your smile would light everyone up and you could make me laugh even when I just wanted to punch you in the head.  I can still hear the sound of your laughter, I can still picture your smile and I can still see you sitting at dunkin donuts.  
It has almost been a year and honestly Mike, it seems like just yesterday.  A year has gone by and you have been in my thoughts prayers and stories.  I always speak of you , I always think of you and everytime I hear the Christina song on the Radio I turn it up and I always Say my Michael song! Then I look up to the sky like I am going to see you smiling down on me or something.  It is so odd how this has just become a routine for me, I don't even think about it, it just comes to me.  
I must admit, I think I live in constant denial.  I come to the site, cry my eyes out that your gone like I have just found out and then its like I push that as far back as I can and although I think of you often, I think that this is not true.  Maybe you got in trouble and your hiding somewhere or something.  I know what the reality is but reality is such a hard thing to face.  
  I already asked for the 24th off because I wanted to be there for the anniversary.  Anniversary, I can't even believe I am saying that.  I havn't been to your grave since your passing, I just have not been about to handle it and now living out in PA its nearly imposible even if I wanted to. 
Mike, you touched so many people's hearts and you have a family that completely loves and adores you.  May you continue to watch over them and help them find peace.  I love you Mike, your turtle you gave me is still in the back seat of my car, and anyone that tries to touch it, I nearly backhand, because I don't want anything to happen to it.  Its like my piece of you that is still here and although it doesn't talk back and give advise and it doesn't hug me back, it is a constant reminder of you and everything you were to me.
Rest in peace.
I love you.
Love always,
Tara Close

It seems like only yesterday  / Aunt Shirley (Aunt)
Mike,

I haven't been in this site in awhile becasue when I come and look at your photo's so many memories come rushing forth bringing with them so much real pain.  I am living life and enjoying my family but you are everywhere.  I think about you everyday and tell a story about you at least once a week.  When I look at your picture or listen to the CD Aunt Stacey made me (which I do everyday on my way home from work) I stll cry.   I will never understand why you were taken from us and I know I will never get over losing you.  Our birthday is coming soon and I think this year will be even harder for me then last year.  Once Again I told everyone I dont want to celebrate because you are no longer here.  Even though when you were here I would get so mad at you becasue you wouldn't call till late at night or the next day.  I still remember when you were young we always celebrated our birthday together with your parents.  On your first birthday you stole a bear that was given to me for my birthday little I did I know at the time that that bear would become the most perious toy in your life.  you kept it with you all these years and your mother now has the bear.  Mike I have so much more to write to you but I will put the letter in the time caspule.

I love you my Angel please continue to watch over us, and visit me again soon.

Love Aunt Shirley Close

Forever Loved...  / Grandson

A few days ago some of your friends came to the front door. Boy were we surprised. They wanted to know what we were going to do for the first anniversay of your passing. Mike they remembered and took the time to come here to speak to us.
We have opened an invitation for everyone to come on the 23rd at 3 P.M..; we are also having a graveside Memorial Service on the 24th. I hope to see family and friends at both services. They also told us that they will hold a candlelight service for you.
Mike you are missed by so many people. I just do not know how you did it in just 24 years of life. Well baby boy, I have a long letter to write to you for the Memorial Time Capsule and some special picture's to find to put into it also.The capsule will be put in place during the service on the 23rd. R.I.P. my sweet angel.
                        Love and Hugs Always
                       Your Loving Grandmother

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almost 1 year  / Gay Mikey (ex roommate/friend )
Hey Mike,  just looking at your myspace and saw that you mom is doing a Memorial Capsule...i love that idea...i just wish i could be there...I just noticed i'm wearing the baby blue basketball shorts u let me borrow from when we lived in the townhouse lol...but anyway, i wanna be there for the capsule but it's gonna be kind of hard to get there since i'm living in Florida now...I will be there Christmas though...I got a text message from Grandma today saying that she misses and loves me...I can only imagine how she's doing with how much she's missing you...you have an amazing family...I miss you Mike...everytime I look at my car I think of you, everytime i get a compliment on my car from the people down here, i tell them that my ROOMMATE MIKE did the work on it for me...it just sucks that you're not here to hear the compliments on all the lights you installed...i went to get my windows tinted 2 weeks ago...and the guy at the shop told me he was gonna take off the tint on the side rear windows (the ones you tinted) and i told him no thanks and i left b/c i'm not having anyone touch those windows...you tinted them and they're staying that way...but I hope you're at rest up there laughing at everything we all do...Please keep watching over us and we'll all keep praying for you...Luv ya bro...watch over your family please... Close

Anniversary 9/24/07  / Sheri (Mother)
Thank you for thinking of my son....

With the anniversary just 19 days away, I would like to invite any friends of Mike's who want to remember him. We are doing a memorial capsule for his anniversary. I would like you all to write a letter and add pictures if you like, it will be private and stay unopened. It's a way for us all to tell and show Michael what has happened in the year without him. It will be buried next to Michael.

If you cannot attend please just mail me what you want placed inside capsule, to 25 Palomino Trail, Vernon NJ 07462. everyone is welcome to join us on Sunday the 23 rd at the cemetery at 3:00pm.

I am doing this a day early so family and friends who work can attend, please each person bring your letters and a balloon, so we can release all of them again. If you like write something on the balloon for his memory.
Thanks again for all your love for my son....

Sheri (Michael's mother)
feel free to write me with any questions ladyvirgo4000@aol.com Close

AN ANgel on Earth Taken From You  / Melissa Bither (Someone passing by )
I am so sorry for your loss.  I ran across this sight and it broke my heart.  I do not know why we have to lose something we love so much.  I lost my mother last year, I know it is not the same. He was so handsome and he seemed as though he knew just what to do in life to make it work and worth while.  I hope you are all finding peace, and may God rest your soul, and I one day you will all be together again.  May God guide you through your pain and may life be good to all of you Close

Denial is my best friend...  / Jennifer Hammond (Aunt)
Hey Mike, I have not been able to visit this site in awhile. Its too hard to see the pictures and read the postings and realize that it's not some horrible nightmare I am having - you are really gone. I don't know how to to deal with all the pain I feel inside when I acknowledge the truth. You are on my mind every day and I miss you so much. I have never looked at the clouds as much as I do now, secretly wishing that I will see a message from you in them or something crazy. 

I need to see you again and tell you how much I love and miss you. When I dream about you, I cry in my sleep. You are such an important part of this family and it is so unfair that you were taken from us. I wish I could turn back time and protect you. Do something, anything to stop what happened and keep you safe here with us. Oh Mikey, what are we supposed to do? How do we adjust? I mean I go to work everyday and have fun with my hubby and kids but always feel this empty space. I can't imagine years passing and not seeing your face. When I drive to work in the morning, often times I see an Eastco van and remember how you hated that job. Pop, Chad and I would drop you off and pick you up cuz you didn't have a car and you would complain the whole ride. As much as I wanted to smack you upside the head for whining about it all the while being chauffered back and forth, I really enjoyed the time with you. I have always loved having you around and just chatting about everything and nothing. I miss you and love you more than you will ever know... Close

Hello / Donna
Hello Mike. I am your grandmothers friend and she told me about this site and said I should meet you. Here I am as I have been for the last 2 hrs thinking oh sweet lord how can your grandmother and all your family survive  this pain. I have cried as if you were my family member. I am sorry not to have known you. Close

11 Months..  / Grandma
Hello my angel. Time goes by so quickly:days turn to weeks and weeks turn into months. I am afraid of next month when months will turn into a year. The first year without you in my life. 11 months seems like such a long time. I wish time would go a little slower, so that I can be sure to not forget one single thing about you, Life is not the same for me, I hope that just one night I will not cry. That I can find strength in my memories, and move forward toward that sunshine that I keep telling myself is just around the corner. R.I.P my beloved baby.
                            Your Loving Grandmother,
                                 Always and Forever Close