Reasons why Emilio Lugo Jr of 317A 13th Street, Brooklyn NY should be recognized & commemorated co-naming 13th Street with an "Emilio Lugo Jr's Way" sign.

• Enlisted & Served a full 4 year term in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, earning an Honorable Discharge as Disabled Combat Veteran.

• Enlisted in the NY Army National Guard holding the rank of SFC (Sergeant First Class) in the 42nd Infantry Division/MMC & the 107th Corps Support Group

•  NYPD Service Achievement of 25 years holding the rank of Police Officer & Detective Investigator Citywide.

•  A 9-11 First Responder who after helping so many victims, eventually became one by developing Prostate, Pancreatic, Lung & Liver cancers caused by the toxins in the air he breathed during all of the time he spent there. After a long, tough fight for his life, he valiantly succumbed to these multiple beasts of 9-11 related cancers. At the very end he maintained a good spirit and could still find many reasons to smile, crack jokes that made the staff smile and love him, sing "Stand By Me" and state "I have cancer, but cancer will never have me!".

• Before & After death he endured painful surgeries in effort to donate parts of his body to PanCan.org which contributed to the research that recently led to the Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine, which will save many lives. https://pancan.org/news/recent-mrna-vaccine-study-answers-for-patients-families/

• After helping to routinely fund the creation of a school in Uganda where there were just latrine holes in the ground to completion, he sponsored 2 children and continued to pay for their uniforms and books so that they could have a dignified education too.  Receiving letters and photos from the children were a highlight for him.

•  Puerto Rican-American Gentleman, most outstanding Dad & Grandpa ever in addition to being a super patient & loving Husband, a Boy Scout Master and everyone's loyal, true friend.

•  Man of practicing & disciplined faith extremely active in his St. Thomas Aquinas- Holy Family Parish, being one of the 1st of a small group of Hispanics to help gradually build the Spanish speaking population into the majority of parishioners that it is today. He voluntarily Ushered and Guarded the church during services and compellingly helped anyone and everyone in need of it, however he could.

• After emerging from poverty as a Red Hook Housing Project son, he vowed that he would never take for granted all of his blessings and pay them forward. He annually obtained donations all year long to individually wrap and donate to thousands of kids during the Feast of the 3 Kings, members of the church or not, so that every child would have a gift to open.

• Dancer EXTRAORDINAIRE, teacher by example and non-stop Dad joke Master! Always flashing his bright smile, especially in the face of all adversity.

• So many people who signed the petition can tell their own personal stories about how he touched their hearts in ways they will remember forever.

 My Dad  lived a selfless life of service to his country, community, family, as well as to total strangers. Through all of his   public service, he always made sure to treat people with dignity and taught us the importance of that. Asked if he could do it all again, would he ... He said "Absolutely, we all have to go someday, but I'm grateful to have done it my way". In wanting to keep our hero's legacy alive even long after we're gone, we'd love when everyone drives down 13 street, they remember the marvel of a kind, humble, modest yet powerful man Emilio Lugo Jr was and be inspired by his desire to care for and protect his fellow human being and follow HIS WAY! July 14th is his 4th year heavenly anniversary, and he still inspires me to share his way of life with all of you. We, his community, support this request because the honoree made a meaningful and lasting contribution to the community and is deserving of this public recognition.