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By
Angela Montefinise
When the Twin Towers crumbled to
the ground on Sept. 11, 2001, 52-year-old Flushing resident Mary DiMarco
felt like she had no place to go.
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This
Sept. 11 memorial inside of Flushing Cemetery has been a peaceful
spot for Queens residents to think and reflect on the World Trade
Center attacks.
Tribune
Photo by Ira Cohen
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“My
husband died three years ago. My daughter lives in Minnesota. I had friends,
but I felt very alone. Scared and alone,” she said. In the days following
Sept. 11, she visited her husband Hector’s grave and “talked to him
about what happened . . . It made me feel better. It sounds really silly,
but it gave me some peace of mind.”
DiMarco said she continued to
visit her husband’s grave in Flushing Cemetery every morning, “following
the same old routine,” until on chilly February morning, she noticed
something new up the cemetery’s middle road. “When I first saw it, I
thought I was going crazy, but there is was. It was a memorial to the World
Trade Center.”
The memorial was installed at the
cemetery at the request of the Cemetery Board in February 2002, and includes
three granite pieces standing side-by-side. The middle section is a piece of
black granite with the Twin Towers diamond etched into it.
The other two smaller white pieces
sit on both sides of the black piece. Each of the three pieces of granite
honors one group affected by the terrorist attacks – the victims, the
rescue workers and American democracy.
DiMarco said when she first saw
the 12,000-pound monument, she “gasped at how beautiful it was.” She
said she immediately said a prayer in front of it, and said, “It was in
such a quiet and beautiful place. It’s a perfect place to reflect.”
She added,” that she goes there
“every ance in awile, and said, with the anniversary coming up, I know
I’ll be back here again. It’s hard to explain, but it’s therapeutic to
be here.”
DiMarco isn’t the only person to
feel that way.
According to Charles Helly, the
cemetery’s manager, there has been a “steady stream” of people
visiting the monument since it was created and installed by DeNigris
Monuments in 2002. “It’s very unique and people like coming here to see
it. It’s in a quiet place. People come and they pray and they cry and they
think,” he said.
He added, “There has never been
a drop-off in people coming to look at it. There are always flowers there
and things like that
. . . With the anniversary coming up, I imagine people will be coming
by to remember. This year is probably going to be more subdued than last
year, so people might want more quiet reflection. We give them the
opportunity.”
He added, “Sometimes, it just
helps to look at something like that and think.”
By
Angela Montefinise
Former Spanish-language radio
reporter and current Tribune account executive Hernando Reyes thought
Sept. 11, 2001 was going to be a fairly ordinary, but hectic, day.
|
Current
Tribune employee Hernado Reyes needed to be consoled at
Ground Zero by Puerto Rico Governor Sila Maria Caldéron and New
York Governor George Pataki.
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The Democratic primary was
scheduled to take place, so Reyes knew he would be all over New York City,
first in the Bronx to watch mayoral candidate Fernando Ferrer vote, then at
various polling sites across the city, then eventually with candidate
Michael Bloomberg.
Yes, he knew it would be hectic.
But he didn’t think it would change his life.
Right around 9 a.m., while the
WNNY reporter was on his way to
get a cup of coffee after finishing their interview his Ferrer, Reyes heard
the news – two planes had hit the World Trade Center.
He told his driver that they had
to get down to lower Manhattan despite heavy traffic. That had formed, so
they followed a police car “as close as possible,” Reyes said, adding,
“My driver was scared. I said, ‘I’ll pay the ticket.’ I knew it was
the only way we could split the traffic and get there.”
After getting stopped by cops
once, Reyes and his driver eventually got to the Trade Center, where the
driver parked and Reyes hopped out to do some interviews.
He said, “I did an interview, and right when we were done, we heard
a loud crash. We looked up, we were about 1,500 feet from it, the building
started coming down. So I ran. Ran and ran. I slid under a station wagon
with three other people . . . When we got out, it was so dark. We had no
idea what was going on.”
Eventually, he found out, and he
said he “cried like a baby”. He said, “I saw so many innocent people
die that day, looking up at the big building helpless. I’ll never forget
it.”
In the wake of the attacks, Reyes
had trouble going back to Ground Zero. He cried when he interviewed New York
State Governor George Pataki and Puerto Rican Governor Sila Maria Calderón
at the spot where the Towers fell. Both comforted him. He said, “It’s
very hard. Very, very hard. Reporters aren’t supposed to cry, but this was
different.”
As the anniversary of the
terrorist attacks approached this week, Reyes said many others feel his same
pain. He just said, “Lots of people saw what I saw. We’re part of the
history. We have to just survive. That’s all we can do.”
Their
Names Live On The Streets Of Queens |
In
the two years since the attack of Sept. 11, the City has remembered numerous
victims of the terror attacks and honored their lives with a street bearing
their names.
On
Sept. 11, 2003, on the second anniversary of the attack, Councilman John Liu
will honor the memory of Police Officer Clinton Davis with a street renaming
in Flushing.
Davis
was born and raised in the Bland Houses in Flushing.
And
on Sept. 14 at 12 p.m., Councilwoman Melinda Katz will host a ceremony to
change a Forest Hills street to honor Richard Allen Pearlman, an eighteen
year old volunteer paramedic for the Forest Hills Ambulance Corps.
The
following offers a list of other Queensites whose names the New York City
Council has approved to be honored with a local street sign.
Astoria
Firefighter
Chrisptopher Santora, 33rd Road, b/w 21 and 23 Streets, Astoria.
Firefighter Manuel Mojica, of 34 Avenue, Astoria.
Bayside
Captain Giammona Vincent F., 42 Avenue, b/w 201 & 202 Streets, Bayside.
Firefighter Michael Mullan, Jordan Street, all of Jordan Street, Bayside.
College
Point
Firefighter
Carl John, Bedigian, 14 Road, 118 Street, NW corner, College Point.
Firefighter Michael Carlo, 8th Avenue, between 147th
Street and 149th Street,
College Point.
Corona
Anthony
Luparello, Alstyna Ave., b/w 102 & 103 St., Corona.
Firefighter James Pappagoerge, 39 Ave., 98 Street, Corona.
Flushing
Arthur
Warren, Scullin 193 Street b/w Northern & 45 Ave., Flushing.
PA Officer Clinton Davis Sr., College Pt. Blvd., 40 Rd, 100 yards off Rsvlt.
Ave., Flushing.
Firefighter Timothy Welty, 159 Street, b/w 29 & 32 Ave., Flushing.
Thomas A. Casoria, 22 Ave., 149 & 150 Streets, Flushing.
Firefighter Michael Cawley, Kalmia Ave. b/w Parsons Blvd & 156 St.,
Flushing.
Firefighter Scott M., Kopytko Oak Ave., b/w Quince Ave & 158 St. (TRI),
Flushing.
Officers Thomas and Paul Langone & Talty, 37 Ave. b/w Union & Bowne
Streets, Flushing.
Firefighter Sergio Gabriel, Villanueva
149th Street between Northern Boulevard and 35th Avenue, Flushing.
Chief William Feehan, None triangle located at the intersection of 164th
Street, 27th Avenue and Bayside Lane, Flushing.
Captain James J. Corrigan Francis Lewis Boulevard, between 195th Street and
37th Avenue, Flushing.
Forest
Hills
Richard
Allen Pearlman, Metropolitan
Avenue between Selfridge Street and Trotting Course Lane, Forest Hills.
Glendale
Firefighter
Scott A. Larsen, Woodhaven Boulevard, between 83rd Avenue and Myrtle Avenue
Glendale.
Lt. Steven Bates, intersection of 74 Street, and Myrtle Avenue, Glendale.
Captain Patrick Waters, 69th Road between 75th Street and 73rd Place,
Glendale.
Michael A. Marti, 79th Street between 77th Avenue and 78th Avenue, Glendale.
EMT David Marc Sullins, 66th Place between Myrtle Avenue and Central Avenue,
Glendale.
Jackson
Heights
James
Marcel-Cartier, 87 Street b/w 25 & 30 Ave., Jackson Heights.
Long
Island City
P.O.
Paul Talty, 50 Ave., Vernon Blvd., Long Island City.
Felicia Hamilton, Vernon Blvd., 51 Ave., Long Island City.
Carlos Lillo, 30th Road, Crescent, Long Island City.
Ann Marie, Riccoboni, 34th Avenue, between 10th Street and 11th Street, Long
Island City.
Maspeth
FDNY Squad 288, Plaza of Heroes, intersection of Perry Avenue, and 68th
Street, Maspeth.
Middle
Village
Diane
Signer, 65 Drive, 75 Place, Middle Village.
Christina Donovan-Flannery, Admiral Avenue, Metropolitan Avenue, Middle
Village.
Jill Maurer-Campbell, Gray Street b/w Juniper Valley Road & 66 Drive,
Middle Village.
Doreen Angrisani Madison St., 64 St., east to end of street, Middle Village.
Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, 79th Place, between Furmanville Avenue, and Juniper
Valley Road, Middle Village.
Lt. Kenneth Phelan, 69th Lane between Eliot Avenue and 60th Avenue, Middle
Village. Firefighter Vincent Morello
81st Street, between 62nd Avenue and Juniper Boulevard North, Middle
Village.
Firefighter Michael Weinberg, Eliot Avenue between 72nd Street and 74th
Street, Middle Village.
Firefighter John Heffernan, 78th Street between Eliot Avenue and 62nd
Avenue, Middle Village.
Richmond
Hill
Firefighter
John Florio, 77th Place between Eliot Avenue and Juniper Boulevard North,
Middle Village.
Lt. Michael Warchola, 84 Place, Furmanville Avenue, Middle Village.
Firefighter Christopher Pickford, 122 St b/w 85 & Hillside Avenues
Richmond Hill.
Ridgewood
Frank
Koestner, Forest Avenue, Woodbine Street, Ridgewood.
Barbara Guzzardo, intersection of 65 St., 68 Ave, north to end of st.,
Ridgewood.
Police Officer Ramon Suarez, Catalpa Ave. b/w Woodward & Onderdonk
Aves., Ridgewood.
Lucia Crifasi, 69 Street, b/w Central & Myrtle, Ridgewood.
Scott Charles, Timmes Catalpa Avenue between Fresh Pond Road and 60th Lane,
Ridgewood.
Patricia “Trish” Cimaroli-Masari, 64th Street between Catalpa Avenue and
Shaler Avenue, Ridgewood.
Rockaway
Chief
John Moran, Beach 118 Street
b/w Rockaway Beach Blvd & boardwalk, Rockaway.
Firefighter Stephen Russell, Bayfield Avenue b/w Beach 72 & Beach 6,
Rockaway.
Springfield
Gardens
Firefighter
William Henry, 133 Avenue, Farmers Blvd., Springfield Gardens.
Calvin Gooding Jr. Sloan Street between 139th Avenue and Eastgate Plaza,
Springfield Gardens.
St.
Albans
Fred
Wilson, Bedell Street between Baisley Boulevard and Farmers, St. Albans.
Sunnyside
Michael
Brennan 41 Street 50 Ave & BQE, Sunnyside.
FDNY Rescue 4 Blvd. of Bravery, Queens
Blvd., b/w 63 St & 65 Place, Sunnyside.
Thomas J. Ashton, 47 Ave. 47 Ave & 60
between 63rd Street and 65th Place, Sunnyside.
Firefighter Thomas McCann, 44 Street b/w 48 St & Laurel Hill Blvd., aka
BQE, Sunnyside.
Whitestone
Firefighter
Michael J., Elferis 130 Street b/w 23 & 25 Avenues, Whitestone.
Woodhaven
Firefighter
Thomas R., Kelly 99 Avenue b/w 97 & 98 Streets, Woodhaven.
Woodside
Firefighter
Vernon Cherry, Broadway
b/w 48 & 51 Streets, Woodside.
Firefighter Teddy White, 57Street b/w 30 & 31 Ave., Woodside.
Firefighter Paul Gill, 35 Street, Broadway, Woodside.
Jason M. Sekzer, 44 Street Queens Blvd & 43 Ave.Woodside.
Lawrence Virgilio, 52nd Street between 43rd Avenue and Skillman Avenue,
Woodside.
Lawrence Virgillio, none existing playground located at 52nd Street and 39th
Drive in Windmuller Park, Woodside.
Signs
honoring Queensites lost on
Sept. 11 are at (in order of appearance from left to right) 33rd Road and
21st Street, Astoria; 69th Lane and 60th Ave., Middle Village; 34th Ave. and
10th Street, Long Island City; 79th Place and Juniper Valley Road, Middle
Village; 193rd Street and Northern Boulevard, Flushing; 33rd Ave. and Jordan
Street, Bayside; 72nd Street and Eliot Ave., Middle Village; 122nd Street
and Hillside Ave., Richmond Hill; Catalpa and Woodward Avenues, Ridgewood;
and 81st Street and 62nd Ave., Middle Village; 30th Road and Crescent, Long
Island City; 122nd Street and Hillside Ave., Middle Village; 57th Street and
31st Ave., Woodside; Catalpa and Fresh Pond Road, Ridgewood; 77th Place and
Eliot Ave., Middle Village; 69th Street and Central Ave., Ridgewood;
164th Street and 27th Ave., Flushing; and Parsons Boulevard and
Kalmia Ave., Flushing; 51st Ave. and Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City;
159th Street and 29th Ave., Flushing; 37th Ave. and Union Street, Flushing;
Myrtle Ave. and 74th Street, Glendale; and 34th Ave. and 21st Street,
Astoria.
On
the second anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that devastated
lower Manhattan and countless families throughout the City, Queens Borough
President Helen Marshall plans to pay tribute to the victims from Queens by
reading a list of their names during a memorial service at Borough Hall.
Below
is the list provided by Marshall’s office. It indicates the victim’s
last name, first name, age and neighborhood.
|
A
firefighter stands at attention holding the U.S. and FDNY flags at a
funeral service for a Woodside fireman killed in the Sept. 11
attacks.
Tribune Photo by Nick Abadjian
|
Adams,
Shannon Lewis, 25 Long Island City
Agnello, Joseph, 35 Belle Harbor
Ahladiotis, Joanne Marie,
27 Forest Hills
Ajala, Godwin, 33 Jamaica
Alvarez, Antonio Javier, 23
Jackson Heights
Alvear, Telmo, 25 Jackson Heights
Amatuccio, Joseph, 41 Ozone Park
Andrews, Michael Rourke, 34
Belle Harbor
Angrisani, Doreen, 44 Ridgewood
Ashton, Thomas, 21 Woodside
Bailey, Andrew, 29 QUEENS
Barzvi, Guy, 29
Forest Hills
Bates, Steven, 42 Glendale
Bautista, Ivhan Luis Carpio, 24
Ozone Park
Bedigian, Carl, 35 Flushing
Belson, Stephen, 51 Far Rockaway
Benedetti, Paul Michael, 32
QUEENS
Berardi, Dominick, 25 Whitestone
Bohan, Darren Christopher, 34
Kew Gardens
Bonomo, Yvonne, 30 Jackson Heights
Bourdier, Francisco E., 40
Jackson Heights
Boyarsky, Gennady, 34 Far Rockaway
Brennan, Michael, 27 Long Island City
Brito, Victoria Alvarez, 38
Elmhurst
Brunn, Andrew Christopher, 28
Flushing
Buslo, Irina, 32
QUEENS
Cachia, Brian Joseph, 26 Fresh Meadows
Cafiero, Jr., Steven, 31 Whitestone
Carlo, Michael Scott, 34 Whitestone
Cartier, James Marcel, 26 Astoria
Casoria, Thomas Anthony, 29
Whitestone
Ceballos, Juan Armando, 47
QUEENS
Cherry, Vernon Paul, 49 QUEENS
Chimbo, Luis Alfonso, 39 Corona
Chowdhury, Mohammad, 38 Woodside
Coleman, Tarel, 32 Rochdale Village
Colhoun, Liam, 34
Flushing
Corrigan, James, 60 Little Neck
Costanza, Alexandra D., 25
Woodside
Crifasi, Lucia, 51 Glendale
Dataram, Anette Andrea, 25
South Ozone Park
Davis, Clinton, 38 Flushing
DeCola, Paul, 39
Ridgewood
DeFeo, David, 37
Flushing
Delli Gatti, Palmina, 33 QUEENS
Dichiaro, Patricia, 63 QUEENS
Domingo, Benilda, 38 Elmhurst
Dowling, Mary Yolanda, 46
Rosedale
Duarte, Mirna, 31 Richmond Hill
Eacobacci, Joseph Anthony, 26
Flushing
Elferis, Michael, 27 College Point
Eng, Doris Suk-Yuen, 30 Flushing
Farino, Thomas, 37 South Ozone Park
Feehan, William 71 Flushing
Flannery, Christina Donovan, 26
Middle Village
Flecha, Eileen, 33 Kew Gardens
Frazier, Jr., Clyde, 41 Jamaica
Gallo, Cono E., 30 Maspeth
Garcia, Jorge Luis Morron, 38
QUEENS
Gargano, Rocco, 28 Bayside
Gill, Paul John, 34 QUEENS
Girolamo, Kum-Kum, 41 Kew Gardens
Gladstone, Dianne, 55 Forest Hills
Gomes, Dennis James, 40 Richmond Hill
Gordon, Kerene, 42 Far Rockaway
Gregory, Florence Moran, 38
Breezy Point
Gregory, Denise 39 QUEENS
Guadalupe, Jose Antonio, 37
Rochdale Village
Guzzardo, Barbara, 49
Glendale
Hafiz, Nizam Ahmad, 32 South Ozone Park
Hall, Vaswald George, 50 St. Albans
Hamdani, Mohammad Sal, 23 Bayside
Heeran, Charles Francis X., 23
Belle Harbor
Henry, William, 49 Springfield Gardens
Hernandez, Claribel, 31 Woodside
Hinds, Neal, 28
Laurelton Gardens
Hinds, Clara Victorine, 52
Far Rockaway
Howell, Michael C., 60 Bayside
Hromada, Milagros, 35 QUEENS
Hrycak, Marian, 56 Flushing
Hynes, Walter, 36 Belle Harbor
Jakubiak, Maria, 41 Ridgewood
Jimenez, Luis, 25 Corona
Jones, Brian L., 44 Kew Gardens
Kearny-Griffin, Lisa Yvonne, 35
Jamaica
Khan, Sarah, 32
QUEENS
King, Jr., Robert, 36 Bellerose Terrace
Koestner, Frank J., 48 Ridgewood
Lafalce, Joseph, 54 QUEENS
Larsen, Scott, 35 QUEENS
Latouche, Jeffrey, 49 Jamaica
Lazar, Eugen, 27
Glendale
Lefkowitz, Stephen Paul, 50
Belle Harbor
Legro, Adriana, 32 Elmhurst
Liang, Ye Wei, 27 Woodside
Liriano, Francisco Alberto, 33
QUEENS
Lizcano, Harold, 31 East Elmhurst
Lozowsky, John Peter, 45 Astoria
Luparello, Athony, 62 Corona
Lyons, Monica, 53 Kew Gardens
Maciejewski, Jan, 37 LIC
Maldonado, Debora, 47 South Ozone Park
Mancini, Francisco, 26 Astoria
Manning, Marion Victoria, 27
Rochdale Village
Marti, Michael, 26 Glendale
Martinez, Robert Gabriel, 24
Long Island City
Massari, Patricia Ann, 25 Glendale
Mauro, Nancy, 51
Forest Hills
Mazzotta, Jennifer, 23 Maspeth
McMahon, Robert Dismas, 35
Woodside
Merino, George, 39 Bayside
Milewski, Lukasz, 21 Kew Gardens
Miller, Corey Peter, 34 Flushing
Milstein, Ronald Keith, 54
QUEENS
Moore, Sharon, 37 QUEENS
Morales, Abner, 37 Ozone Park
Morales, Paula, 42 Richmond Hill
Moran, John, 43
Rockaway
Morello, Vincent, 34 Middle Village
Mullan, Michael, 34 Bayside
Muniz, Nancy, 45
Ridgewood
Munoz, Frank, **
Flushing
Murphy, Jr., Robert Eddie, 56
Hollis
Murray, Valerie Victoria, 65
QUEENS
Navarro, Karen Susan, 30 Bayside
Nieves, Gloria, 48 Jackson Heights
Noeth, Michael Allen, 30
Jackson Heights
Ortiz, Alexander, 36 Ridgewood
Ortiz, Sonia, 58
Flushing
Ortiz, Jr., Emilio, 38 Corona
Ottenwalder, Isidro, 35 QUEENS
Paramsothy, Vijayashanker, 23
Astoria
Parham, James Wendell, 32 Jackson Heights
Park, Gye-Hyong, 28 Flushing
Paz-Gutierrez, Victor, 43 QUEENS
Pearlman, Richard Allen, 18
Howard Beach
Pepe, Salvatore, 45 Elmhurst
Perez, Ivan, 37
Ozone Park
Pfeifer, Kevin, 42 Middle Village
Phelan, Kenneth John, 41 Maspeth
Pickford, Christopher, 32 Forest Hills
Pierce, Dennis, 54 QUEENS
Poptean, Joshua, 37
North Flushing
Porras, Giovanna, 24 Richmond Hill
Quinn, Ricardo, 40 Bayside
Racaniello, Christopher, 30
Little Neck
Ramsaroop, Vishnoo, 44 Jackson Heights
Rasool, Amenia, 32 Richmond Hill
Rauzi, Gerard, 42 Flushing
Reich, Howard, 59 Forest Hills
Resta, John Thomas, 40 Bayside
Resta, Sylvia San Pio, 27 Bayside
Reyes, Jr., Eduvigis, 37 St. Albans
Riccoboni, AnnMarie, 58 QUEENS
Richards, Michael, 38
Jamaica
Richman, Alan Jay, 44 Long Island City
Riso, Rose Mary, 55 QUEENS
Rivera, Linda Ivelisse, 26
Far Rockaway
Salas, Hernando, 71 Flushing
Samaniego, Carlos Alberto, 29
Richmond Hill
Sarker, Chapelle, ** QUEENS
Savas, Anthony, 72 Astoria
Scullin, Arthur Warren, 57
Flushing
Sewnarine, Sita, **
Richmond Hill
Shanahan, Earl Richard, 50
Flushing
Shubert, Thomas Joseph, 43
Flushing
Signer, Dianne, 32 Middle Village
Singh, Roshan, 21 Woodhaven
Slavin, Vincent, 41 Belle Harbor
Smith, Joyce, 55
QUEENS
Smith, Sandra Fajardo, 37
QUEENS
Smith, Moira Ann, 38 Queens Village
Solares, Ruben, 51 QUEENS
Sperando, Mary Rubina, 39 QUEENS
Stan, Alexandru Liviu, 34
QUEENS
Stan, Corina, 31
Middle Village
Stanley, Mary, 53 Jamaica
Strauss, Steven, 51 Fresh Meadows
Suarez, Ramon, 45
Ridgewood
Sullins, David Marc, 30 Glendale
Taddei, Norma, 64 Woodside
Thackurdeen, Goumatie, 35 South Ozone Park
Timmes, Scott, 28 Ridgewood
Trinidad, Michael Angel, 33
Jamaica
Tung, Ching Ping, 43
QUEENS
Vale, Ivan, 27
Ridgewood
Valentin, Jr., Santos, 39 Richmond Hill
Vargas, David, 46 Long Island City
Villanueva, Sergio, 33 Jackson Heights
Waisman, Gabriela, 33 Elmhurst
Wallace, Robert, 43 Woodhaven
Wang, Ching, 59
QUEENS
Warchola, Michael, 51 Middle Village
Waring, James, 49
Bayside
Waters, Patrick, 45 QUEENS
Weinberg, Michael, 34
Maspeth
Whelan, Eugene, 31 Rockaway
White, Edward James, 30 QUEENS
Wong, Jennifer, 26 Whitestone
Young, Barrington, 35 Rosedale
Yuen, Elkin, 32
Flushing
Zempoaltecatl, Martin Morales, 22
QUEENS
Zukelman, Igor, 29
QUEENS
| New
York’s Bravest Hurt And Heal |
By
Liz Goff
Kevin
is nine now, but he celebrated his seventh birthday just two days
before his firefighter dad went into the Twin Towers with his Queens Rescue
Squad to “help people get out” and never came out himself.
|
Widows
and firefighters will have
a Sept. 11 memorial breakfast at
Rescue Squad 288 and HazMat Co.1
in Maspeth this week.
Tribune
Photo by Ira Cohen
|
The little boy’s mother has
tried to return some normalcy to Kevin’s life and to the lives of his
three sisters.
“It’s difficult,” she said,
“We try to move on with school and scouts, dance and karate lessons.”
The girls — ages 14, 13 and 11 — seem to be adapting “better and
easier than Kevin,” mom said. “But Kevin, he just keeps searching for
his dad.”
Kevin’s father’s remains were
never located. Kevin’s third-grade class went on a field trip earlier this
year, to visit the South Street Seaport and Ground Zero. His teacher turned
away for a moment “and Kevin was gone,” his mother said. “He was found
a few moments later, digging through some soil and debris – and his
pockets were filled with sand and pebbles,” she said. Kevin told his
teacher he wondered if he might find something from his dad in the pile of
soil, she said.
Moving
On
Firefighters at Rescue Squad 288
and HazMat Co. 1 in Maspeth are a special breed of men, trained to assist in
the worst tragedies, the most difficult rescue operations. The house lost 19
men on Sept. 11. Fifty-one children were left without a father.
Firefighters from 288 and HazMat,
despite a lack of counseling and grief services from the FDNY, turned their
energy after Sept. 11 toward the children and wives of those lost at the
Twin Towers.
They arranged outings, holiday
parties and picnics, said a Lieutenant. “We did whatever we could, to help
the kids get through the really tough times,” he said – even at the risk
of missing time with their own children.
Raphaella Crisci, wife of Lt. John
Crisci who perished on Sept. 11, said,
“Sometimes the most wonderful thing the guys did for the children was to
listen.”
“It is so important for these
kids to have a sense of continuity, to know that life goes on. No matter how
difficult that is,” she said.
The children, she said, have
learned that they can always count on the men who worked alongside their dad
– and any city firefighter – to listen and “just be there” for them.
“But they also realized that
this is their life, and they will be able to get back to some sort of normal
day-to-day routine. Sometimes that means that they don’t reach out to the
guys as much,” she said. “It doesn’t mean that the guys don’t care
and wouldn’t be there if they needed them.”
“It
means that the kids are growing, making their own way and developing their
own paths,” she said. “And that’s O.K.”
Anniversary
Memorial
The wives will join firefighters
at the Maspeth house this week on the morning of Sept. 11 for a breakfast.
The group plans to travel to Ground Zero together for the formal memorial,
then break up for private services, said Lt. Flynn of Squad 288.
“We will always get together on
Sept. 11 . . . and for always, whenever they need us – or we need them,”
Flynn said.
Some of the wives remain in
constant contact, firefighters said. Others have “sort of faded away,”
but still reach out from time to time, they said.
One HazMat firefighter said,
“Life goes on, even though we mark time in remembrance . . . It’s
like the beach. You can do whatever you want with the sand – build
castles, write on it, dig holes. But sooner or later, the tides will wash up
and return it to the way it was . . . almost. There will always be some
grains of sand missing, but it hasn’t all been destroyed.“
Some of the wives said the
adjustment has been difficult for their children because of the intense
publicity surrounding the loss of 343 city firefighters.
“People genuinely want to
help,” one wife said. “And
we are sincerely grateful. But I still have to explain to my five-year-old
why daddy wasn’t at her kindergarten graduation,” she said.
Some firefighters at the house
said they “had to pull back” to get through their own loss, the
overwhelming feeling that the companies had been stripped of so many men on
Sept. 11. “These are very personal feelings,” one
said, “you keep telling yourself it’s going to be okay. But then
you think, they’re really not coming back.”
The firefighters have transformed
a wall at the house into a memorial for their fallen brothers. Where coats,
jackets, helmets and equipment once hung on a series of hooks, there are now
19 brass plaques bearing remembrances of the fallen men.
“Everything we do to remember
them takes them farther away now,” said one firefighter. “Everything we
do to keep them close just makes them more of a memory.”
|
