Irish Bard Award winner Michael Daly, of the Daily News, with
the 2002 Colleen Queen Kaitlyn Stackpole at the Great Irish Fair's
kick-off at Borough Hall on Aug. 22.
Stackpole is the daughter of slain FDNY Capt. Timothy Stackpole.
The tug of emotions was written all over the face of Tara Stackpole
as she sat in the ceremonial courtroom of Borough Hall at a press
conference for the 22nd annual Great Irish Fair. The widow of
hero 9-11 firefighter Capt. Timothy Stackpole was on hand to see
her daughter Kaitlyn, 15, draped in a striped sash embroidered
with gold letters pronouncing her the fair's "Colleen Queen."
Tara, sitting next to her youngest son, Terence, 7, watched her
daughter and silently wept. Bravely smiling while dabbing away
the tears, she was almost certainly weeping for the proud moment
in Kaitlyn's life that she could not share with her husband. Borough
President Marty Markowitz addressed Kaitlyn from the podium saying,
"Captain Stackpole's dedication and bravery will never be forgotten,
and I know your father would be extremely proud of all you have
accomplished." In a year of heroes, Stackpole's story is one tha
t
stands out from the pack. The Midwood resident was first recognized
for his heroism after surviving an East New York inferno in 1998
that killed two firefighters. He and four other firefighters had
raced into the building, mistakenly believing that an elderly
woman was trapped within. The floor gave way, killing two of his
fellow firefighters. Stackpole was left critically injured. Stackpole
underwent a heroic recovery and, according to Mayor Rudolph Giuliani,
who called Stackpole "one of the most exceptional human beings
I've ever met," the firefighter joked from his hospital bed that
because of the injury he'd have to retire after 40 years on the
job instead of 50. This despite the fact that Stackpole's severe
injuries would have qualified him to retire with a full pension.
Stackpole underwent months of rehabilitation, dozens of surgeries
and painful skin grafts and made it back to active duty, promoted
to captain at Division 11 in Downtown Brooklyn just days before
he died. When he was honored at the 2001 Great Irish Fair, Stackpole
said, "I always wanted to come back." On Sept. 11, Stackpole formed
a company that rushed into the South Tower shortly before it collapsed.
As Brooklyn approaches the anniversary of Sept. 11, events like
the Great Irish Fair reinforce the importance of remembering and
paying tribute to those we have lost, and of not losing sight
of our future or our grasp on hope. The Fair, organized by the
Ancient Order of Hibernians, benefits the century-old Catholic
Charities, which offers services to the most vulnerable citizens
of Brooklyn and Queens. This year's fair is dedicated to "all
the victims of 9-11 with sincere appreciation to Rudy Giuliani."
In addition to remembering Capt. Stackpole, the fair will remember
Fire Department chaplain Father Michael Judge. "They were two
men of incredible faith put into action every day and especially
on Sept. 11," said Father Kevin Sweeney, coordinator of the Irish
Apostolate for the Diocese of Brooklyn. Chief Brehon of this year's
fair is New York Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Collins
who will preside over the fair with Kaitlyn Stackpole, who attends
Bishop Kearney High School. Collins is no stranger to Brehon duties,
having been Grand Marshall of the Bay Ridge Saint Patrick's Day
Parade in 1997 and Marshall of this year's 27th Annual Irish American
Parade in Park Slope. Like her father, Kaitlyn is already making
a difference in Marine Park; she is an active member of Good Shepherd
parish and served as president of Good Shepherd's Student Council.
Acknowledging Tara and Kaitlyn Stackpole, Daily News columnist
Michael Daly, upon accepting the Irish Bard award, said, "Irish
men are measured by the size of their hearts, but Irish women's
hearts are just a little bit bigger." This year's Irishman of
the Year Award is Father Patrick West, pastor of Our Lady of Solace
in Coney Island. Fair chairman Al O'Hagan promises that this year's
fair, although a tribute to those lost "will not be an Irish wake
but I guess that wouldn't be such a bad thing." This year's fair
will certainly have an Irish wake's mixture of gaiety and sadness,
again featuring entertainment, food and shopping in addition to
Catholic masses. Look for Irish restaurants - such as Downtown
Brooklyn restaurant Eamonn Doran's - as well arts and crafts,
vendors, step dancers, war pipe bands and rides and games for
children. There will be seven stages of continuous live entertainment
on both days with Sunday featuring the Emerald Society pipe bands
from the Police, Fire, Transit, Sanitation and Corrections departments,
as well as "out-of-town" pipers The Clann Erin. On Sept. 7 at
11 am, a mass led by Bishop Thomas Daily will be held in memory
of the victims of 9-11 in the tent located in the northeast corner
of the park. The Great Irish Fair takes place Sept. 7 and Sept.
8 from 10 am to 7 pm at Dreier-Offerman Meadows in Gravesend.
Masses will be held in the tent located in the northeast corner
of the park on Sept. 7 at 11 am in memory of the victims of 9-11,
and on Sept. 8 at 9 am and 11 am. Dreier-Offerman Park is located
off Shore Parkway between Cropsey Avenue and Bay 44th Street.
Admission is $10, free for children age 12 and younger. For more
information about the Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens
all (718) 337-6800 or visit the Web site at www.ccbq.org.
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