Monday September 11, 2006

In memory of Michael R. Canty

A few weeks ago I signed up to be a part of 2,996, a blogging project aimed to memorialize the victims of the 9/11 attacks. I was given the name of a man I never met, and an assignment to write something about him on the five year anniversary of his death. The intention of the project, I believe, was to put politics aside for a day and remind everyone that each name on the list was a person who meant something to somebody.

I was given the name Michael R. Canty.

Since I've never met Michael, I googled his name and searched some websites devoted to the victims of 9/11. Most sites included the same snippets about his life. He was 30 years old, lived in Schenectady, had a degree from Loyola, and worked on the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center as a broker for Carr Futures. He had eigth brothers and sisters, 16 neices and nephews, and was in love with a woman named Erin. There was a ring on deposit for her when Michael died. He was just looking for the right time and place to propose.

On one of the websites I visited, people who knew Michael posted some of their own memories and prayers. Several of his nieces and nephews even posted comments, one calling him the best uncle ever. The others were old friends and classmates reminiscing about his kindness and mourning the loss of such a friendly face. Even though I don't know Michael, I can say with certainty that he truly loved his family and friends, all of whom miss him terribly today. I feel honored to memorialize him here.