The 2,996 Project, In honor of Lt. Michael Quilty

So I'm sitting here in a public restaurant and I'm crying.

I am attempting to find the appropriate words to honor Lt. Michael Quilty, a New York City firefighter who died 5 years ago today, on the day that changed the world.

Michael Thomas Quilty was a 20 year and 6 day veteran of the NY City Fire Department. Most of his career had been spent with Engine 282, and Ladder 148 in Brooklyn. He had been promoted to lieutenant in 1999, and served wherever he was needed. He had spent only a year at Ladder 11 when he died at the World Trade Center.

I am sending my prayers to God and my thoughts and best wishes to his family, wife Susan, son Daniel and daughter Kerry.

Since its inception in 1999, the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) has awarded fifty-seven (57) scholarships to the children of their fallen brothers. The scholarship award is $4,000 for the first year of school followed by $2,000 for the remaining 3 years of undergraduate study for a total scholarship of $10,000. Daniel Quilty was awarded a scholarship in 2004/2005, and Kerry was just awarded one. I'm so sorry that you were eligible for the scholarship, but I feel sure that your dad would have been proud.

Mike, as he was known, was an avid sportsman. He scuba-dived with his son Daniel and coached his daughter Kerry's soccer team. He was a life-long resident of Staten Island and a member of St. Teresa's Roman Catholic Church, Castleton Corners, Staten Island, New York. You can read more about his life here.

I lack the eloquence to do justice to Lt. Quilty. I hope I honor him with what I've attempted to do here.