|
My sister, Helga, turned 40 on Sept. 11th. Because
of their hectic work schedules, her husband, Mike, planned
a small get-together with a few of their closest friends
on the previous Friday night. He planned on getting home
early on the 11th so that he could prepare a nice birthday
dinner for Helga, but his plan never came to fruition.
Sgt. Michael Sean Curtin, a member of Harlem-based Emergency
Service Unit Truck 2 of the New York City Police Department,
died in the World Trade Center attacks.
He was last heard from that morning when he
phoned Helga to wish her a happy birthday. Mike represented
the true meaning of hero - ordinary people who do
extraordinary things for others, without ever expecting
anything in return. Speaking at Mike's memorial service,
NY police commissioner Bernard Kerik said "There are
a number of people in the New York City Police Department
who were heroes far before that day. In looking at Michael's
history with the NYPD, it was apparent that he was a hero
long before Sept. 11. He was a Marine. He was someone that
loved his country, loved his department and most importantly,
he loved his girls, all four of them." Helga and Mike
have three daughters, Jennifer (15), Erica (14) and Heather
(12).
Mike was not only one of the first to respond
to the September 11th terrorist attack. He was also one
of the first to respond to the 1993 bombing of the World
Trade Center where he was lowered from a helicopter
onto the roof of the Trade Center to clear an area for evacuation.
He was a Marine through and through, temporarily putting
his NYPD duties on hold while he served in the Gulf during
Desert Storm. And he also received a great deal of notoriety
for his actions during the rescue and recovery efforts in
the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, when Mike discovered the
remains of Marine Capt. Randy Guzman, an officer in charge
of the recruiting office at the Oklahoma City Federal
Building. Because the dangerous location, Mike and a
few others had to request special permission to recover
Guzman's remains. They were able to recover the body of
Capt. Guzman, draped him with a U.S. flag, and ceremoniously
saluted him as
he was carried from the site
He was just as passionate about his work with
the NYPD. He was often in dangerous situations risking his
own life to save others. He saved construction worker
Marihenda Tunkara from the 1999 Harlem building collapse
that pinned him beneath mounds of rubble, breaking his
knee and hip and knocking him unconscious. By the time Mr.
Tunkara awoke, Mike and his partners were standing over
his hospital bed, wishing him well and urging him to be
careful when he returned to work. Later, Mr. Tunkara
said that he would have died if it weren't for Mike.
"I want to tell his family that police are good people
- he is a good person."
Mayor Rudolph W. Guiliani said that Mike's
service to the city made him proud. "When I come
to a memorial service like this, it gives me great strength
and inspiration ... and it makes me feel very, very proud
that we have people that defend America and defend New York
and it shows strength and bravery." He went on to tell
Helga and the girls that "You can't take your daddy
away from you, it can't be done. It's not possible. You
have something that lots of children don't have; you have
the absolute sure knowledge that your dad was a great man,
an American patriot, and we thank you very much."
To see the thousands of Police Officers, Marines,
neighbors, friends and even strangers that turned out for
Mike's memorial service was overwhelming, and to know
that his short life had touched so many people is truly
a tribute to the man he was. I'll always remember Mike
as the fun-loving yet exceptionally modest and humble person
who was immensely loyal to and proud of his family as well
as a terrific friend to everyone that knew him. It feels
like only yesterday that I met this kind and decent person,
and I felt terrific then knowing that he'd be the perfect
soul mate for my sister. Now I take solace in knowing
that he'll always be remembered as the loving husband, nurturing
dad, helpful neighbor, and truly unselfish hero that he
was. He was, and will always be, the real deal.
Werner Klampfl
wklampfl@crockettint.com
There is a memorial scholarship fund that has been put
together by the Marine Corp. Mike was a Sergeant Major,
recently retired from active reserve duty some months
before 9/11. Checks to this fund are payable to:
There is also:
The New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's
Benefit Fund
P.O. Box 3713
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
http://www.nypfwc.org/contribute.cfm
My sister and her girls are getting along, as well as can
be expected, and it's truly fortunate that the NYPD is such
a large and supportive family. Through all of this, I must
say that the spirit of togetherness and belonging displayed
by all the NYPD officers and their families has been remarkable.
The next time you come across a police officer, or fireman,
or EMS personnel, shake their hand and thank them for the
job they do - their dedication and commitment is really
a tribute to the human spirit.
Thanks again,
Werner
|
