The 49th Annual Dinner Dance in memory of Michael Patrick Quinn will be held April 7, 2018 at the Bunker Hill Knights of Columbus Hall located at 545 Medford St.
With a healthy and sound setting, Michael was able to distinguish himself at St Francis De Sales Grammar School at the top of the hill. With classmate Edward Doherty, many fun filled days, were had traveling Bunker Hill Street. These lively sojourns would soon be over, as Michael entered Boston Latin School in 1960. A distinguished scholar and athlete at Latin, Michael was the recipient of the Patrick Thomas Campbell Award for excellence in scholarship in 1964, and the Dr J H Brunett award by the Gridion Club in 1963, for excellence in scholarship, leadership, and football prowess, he was an All-City selectee 1963-1964.
On September 1964, Michael entered The College of the Holy Cross on a four-year scholarship. Once again, he met with success in both football and hockey becoming co-captain of the first varsity hockey team. While at Holy Cross, Michael enrolled in ROTC, receiving his United States Marine Corps commission upon graduation, coupled with a bachelor of arts degree on May 29,1968.
Recognized for his leadership, skills and initiative, he was promoted to executive officer in 1969. On a patrol 28 miles south of De Nang at 5 p.m., on Aug. 29, 1969, Michael’ was platoon commander of the weapon’s platoon, and was killed in combat while serving with Company H, 2nd Battalion 7th Marine 1st Marine Division.
On Sept. 9, 1969, with Edward Johnson and Stephen Driscoll’s financial support, and Roan Fitzpatrick’s perserverance, the Lt Michael P Quinn Scholarship Fund was established. Since our inception 48 college scholarships have been awarded in the amount of $181,500.00, to the fine youth of Charlestown. Commencing with Robert Irgens in 1970, to the first women recipient Ann Marie Duffy in 1977, to the 48th Quinn Scholar Patrick O’Brien Kelly, the future generation is indeed blessed with their leadership.
We celebrated our first dinner dance on April 4, 1970, at Memorial Hall, we look forward to our 49th on April 7, at the Bunker Hill Knights of Columbus Hall, 545 Medford St., Charlestown, Ma. , this will be our 30th event at the Council. The 2017 Quinn Scholar Patrick O’Brien Kelly, 2017 graduate of Pope John XX111 High School, Patrick is maintaining a 3.84 GPA, at St Joseph’s College, will be honored. As a friend of the Quinn organization we will dedicate our program book to James F “ Jimmy” Gallagher, a Marine, and retired Boston Fire Fighter, and the father of the 1995 Quinn Scholar, Cory Ann Gallagher. He passed away on Oct. 16, 2017. Brigadier General Stephen M. Neary, USMC, deputy director, Joint Training, Joint Staff 07, will be our featured speaker. Tickets are $40 per person, and may be purchased by contacting Ronan J FitzPatrick, at 617-242-5493, or writing to P.O. Box 290216, Charlestown, MA 02129-0213. In closing the eloquent words of General George Patton, capture the noble courage and character of our forever friend Michael, “ It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”