Fallen Irish-American Navy SEAL remembered with pints of Guinness

Facebook upload gains goes viral as hero is remembered by thousands

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KERRY O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

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Guinness left on the bar along with reserved sign for Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy.

Photo by Facebook

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In what has now become a viral attraction on Facebook,  Jeff Beaurline chose to remember his friend and fallen Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy on St. Patrick’s Day with offerings of Guinness at his local pub in Connecticut.

Beaurline went to Pub 25 in Newton, Connecticut on St. Patrick’s Day to arrange with the owner and manager of the establishment for a pint of Guinness could be given to a random customer every hour of that day. Though Beaurline had intended to provide enough funds to cover the random pints, the owner and manager insisted that they would be on the house.

Leaving a touching memorial for his friend and fallen SEAL, Beaurline uploaded a picture of a pint of Guinness next to a small American flag and a note that read “Reserved for Lt Michael P. Murphy US Navy Seal. Killed in action - 28 June 2005 - Afghanistan. Not Forgotten.”

Lt. Michael P. Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his courageous actions while in Afghanistan. “After coming under fire from approximately 50 insurgents, Murphy knowingly exposed himself to enemy fire so he could transmit a signal requesting immediate assistance for his team. Murphy and two of the other SEALs died in the firefight, though the fourth member, Marcus Luttrell, survived,” reports The Blaze.

Beaurline’s touching message on Facebook that accompanied his now wildly popular upload read: “As promised… I just walked into a local pub (PUB 25, Newtown, CT) and asked to speak with the Owner/Manager. I asked if I could leave a cold one on the bar for Michael all day . I showed him the “Reserved” sign I made and explained I wanted to leave him sufficient funds to buy a random person a Guinness every hour today, and that when the surprised patron asks him “Who is this from?” he should reply: “It’s from LT Michael P. Murphy.” and point to the reserved sign. The Owner/Manager was so in tune with this small gesture, he refused my money, introduced me to two men working in the PUB who just returned home from Afghanistan and Iraq with the ASSURANCE that my request on Michael’s behalf would be honored. God Bless America!”

At time of reporting, Beaurline’s viral Facebook upload has gained just over 33,000 likes and close to 9,000 shares.

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