9.11 ten years later

9.11.01: TEN YEARS LATERBELLMORE LIFE • MERRICK LIFE • THE WANTAGH-SEAFORD CITIZEN • THE FREEPORT-BALDWIN LEADER

photo by Jack Healy

“They never knew you, but they will know all about you...”A memorial to those lost, and a salute to our communities’ response.

photo by Bob Harrison

Pag

e 1A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns •

9.11

.01: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er

9.11.01: Ten YeaRS LaTeR

“the stories numb us ...”– eileen dever

above, Sacred Heart church in north Merrick.

‘He [Brian Sweeney] is like a brother to us. each time i close my eyes, i seehim smiling or laughing.”

– Michele Valerio speaking about Firefighter Brian Sweeney

above, firefighters memorial at Merrick’s train station.

When putting together a section reflecting on 10 years after the

attacks of 9/11/01 – we thought it would be of interest to the communi-

ties we cover to read some quotes of our coverage back then. Without

much explanation needed, we remember the tragedy that touched us

all. The pictures are of different memorials found around the eight

towns covered by L & M Publications. We also included some informa-

tion from a timeline of the day, courtesy of National September 11

Memorial and Museum, with other content added: The entire timeline can be found

online at www.merricklife.com. The section is conceived and edited by Laura Schofer,

and designed by the L & M Publications production department. The photographs

(unless noted) are by Robert L. Harrison on assignment for this newspaper.

September 11, 2001, 5:45 a.m.Hijackers pass security screening

Hijackers Mohammed atta andabdulaziz al omari pass throughsecurity at portland internationalJetport in Maine. they board a shuttleflight to Boston’s Logan internationalairport, where they connect to Losangeles-bound american airlinesFlight 11.

atta will pilot Flight 11 on its lethalcourse into the north tower of theWorld trade center. Four hijackersphysically subdue passengers andcrew so that atta can breach thecockpit and kill or disable the twoamerican airlines pilots.

7:59 a.m.American Airlines Flight 11 takesoff from Logan Airport in Boston,14 minutes behind its scheduleddeparture.

Seventy-six passengers, 11crewmembers and five hijackersboard Flight 11. in industry terms, theLos angeles-bound flight is “ridingheavy,” stocked with up to 68,400pounds of fuel for its transcontinentalrun. al Qaeda terrorists hijack theplane at approximately 8:14 a.m. andreroute it towards Manhattan, usingthe Hudson River as a navigationalguide.

8:14 a.m.United Airlines Flight 175 takes offfrom Logan Airport in Boston, also14 minutes behind its scheduleddeparture.

Fifty-one passengers, ninecrewmembers and five hijackersboard Los angeles bound Flight 175.

al Qaeda terrorists hijack the planeat approximately 8:45 a.m. andreroute it towards Manhattan.

8:19 a.m.American Flight 11 crew contactsairline

Veteran flight attendants Betty annong and Madeline “amy” Sweeney,with a combined 26 years of experi-ence, alert ground personnel to thehijacking of Flight 11. they stay onthe line for almost the entire durationof the flight after its seizure by theterrorists, relaying key details aboutthe attack, such as the hijackers’seat numbers and report that thecrew is unable to contact the cockpit.

8:20 a.m.Flight 77 takes off

american airlines Flight 77, en routeto Los angeles, departs dullesinternational airport, near Washington,d.c., 10 minutes delayed.

continued on page 2a

• Proper Pricing

• Proper Marketing

• Proper Presentation

• Powerful Results

2300 Merrick Road • Merrick • 516-623-3008

7678AU2911ES

Lic. Broker Associate

ASP, CBR, e-PRO, GREEN, GRI

Senior Residential Specialist

Short Sale Certified

Call Margaret Today @ 516.510.9290 for a Complimentary Market Consultation

www.margaretbiegelman.com

In solemn remembrance of those lost...

...In constant support of all those

touched by the tragedy.

MB

argaret

iegelman

“Where every MOVE matters!”

L&

M P

ubli

cati

ons

•9.1

1.0

1:

te

n y

ea

rs

la

te

r•

Pag

e 2A

Pag

e 1A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns •

9.11

.01: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er


“We pray for those who wait in theanguish and unspeakableness ofnot knowing.”

– Father Robert Romeo curé of ars,

chaplain of the Merrick Firedepartment

above, curé of ars church in Merrick.

“i used to think that the u’netaneh tokef was written either by someone old, pondering imminent death or by someonewho had endured plagues and earthquakes. and then i watched a plane carrying human beings being crashed into abuilding full of other human beings. and as i saw the ball of fire and the smoke, i began to ponder those awesomewords [found in u’netaneh tokef]: ‘Who will live and who will die...who by fire and who by water...who by suffocationand by hurtling objects. i knew that even the angels were confounded.’ ”

– Rabbi Maurice d. Simckes of temple israel reads a letter at a Merrick clergy council Service of Remembrance.

above, Bellmore-Merrick central High School administrative offices at the Brookside School

8:24 a.m.Hijacker Mohammed Atta on Flight 11 mistakenly contacts air traffic control

Minutes later, he makes a second unintended transmission.

8:37 a.m.Air traffic control contacts the military

after hearing atta’s transmission, air traffic controllers contactnortheast air defense Sector (neadS), a division of the military

that defends north american airspace, to report the hijacking.

8:42 a.m.Flight 93 takes off

united airlines Flight 93 departs newark internationalairport after a lengthy air traffic delay on the tarmac. Flight 93was scheduled to leave newark at 8 a.m., within minutes of theother hijacked flights.


debra fisherLicensed Assoc. Broker

seth pitlakeLicensed Salesperson

heli howeLicensed Salesperson

trudy sternLicensed Salesperson

louise pitlakeLicensed Assoc. Broker

516.297.5260

THE

POWER

GROUP

Your Trusted Advisors For All

Things Real Estate!

2300 Merrick Road, Merrick

7690AU2911ES

AlwaysRemember

Pag

e 3A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns •

9.11

.01: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er


8:46 a.m.Crash of Flight 11

Flying the plane at about 470 milesper hour, hijackers crash Flight 11 intofloors 93-99, instantly killing the 87 pas-sengers and crew on board andunknown hundreds within the tower.

the crash starts fires throughout thenorth tower and funnels jet fuel downelevator shafts, igniting fireballs at thelobby and below-grade levels, and burn-ing anyone coming into contact with thiscombusting fuel.

the impact severs all three emer-gency stairwells, trapping hundreds inand above the impact zone.

8:46 a.m.Emergency services mobilized

the Fire department of new York(FdnY) and new York policedepartment (nYpd) dispatch units tothe World trade center within secondsof Flight 11’s crash.

on site, port authority policedepartment (papd) officers begin evac-uating the north tower. papd head-quarters in Jersey city, new Jersey dis-patches additional officers from othercommand posts to the World tradecenter.

8:50 a.m.President Bush is alerted around thistime while visiting an elementaryschool in Sarasota, Florida

8:55 a.m.South Tower tenants instructed toremain in the building

8:59 a.m.On board Flight 175

as hijacked Flight 175 approachesthe World trade center, crewmembersand passengers manage to contactloved ones and authorities on theground.

9:02 a.m.South Tower evacuation order


Hijackers, flying the plane at 590miles per hour, crash Flight 175 intofloors 77 to 85 of the World tradecenter’s South tower, instantly killingthe 60 passengers and crew andunknown hundreds within the tower.

the impact severs two of three emer-gency stairwells and most of the eleva-tor cables, trapping many inside eleva-

tor cars, and cutting off escape routes.

9:05 a.m.President Bush is alerted that a sec-ond plane has crashed into the SouthTower of the World Trade Center

9:10 a.m.Increasing response

the nYpd calls a second Level 4Mobilization, bringing its total deploy-ment close to 2,000 men and women.Minutes later, the FdnY issues a sec-ond fifth alarm. other companies andoff-duty personnel, not directly called,respond to the attacks.

in total, more than 200 fire units,approximately 2,200 police officers, andnumerous others from city and federalagencies responded to the disasterscene at the World trade center.

When their vehicle becomes stuck intraffic, Firefighter gary R. Box ofBellmore, 37, and others from theFdnY’s elite Squad 1 run through theBrooklyn Battery tunnel to the Worldtrade center. His picture on page 8 wastaken shortly after the crash of Flight175. Squad 1 loses 11 members on9/11, including Firefighter Box.

9:32 a.m.Flight 93 hijackers accidentally trans-mit a message intended for the pas-sengers

9:36 a.m.Vice President Dick Cheney is evacu-ated from his White House office


Hijackers crash Flight 77 into thepentagon’s western facade, killing the59 passengers and crew on board theplane and 125 military and civilian per-sonnel inside the building. 106 areseverely injured in the ensuing fire.

9:42 a.m.National ground stop

the Federal aviation authority (Faa)grounds all flights over, or bound for, thecontinental united States. the u.S.department of transportation allowednational airspace to open and flights toresume two days later on September13, 2001, at 11 a.m. eSt.

9:45 a.m.White House and U.S. Capitol evacuated

“He loved being a firefighter and was doing what he loved doing when he wasat the World trade center that day.”

– Jimmy Rand, older brother of firefighter adam Rand

above, Mill pond in Bellmore.

“We did not escape the tragedy.”- irma Kass, president of the north Bellmore Board of education

“people prayed for loved ones, for solace and comfort, for the return of thosemissing; the bell rang sorrowfully, reflecting the grief of humanity.”

– Laraine Milazzo at a mass at St. BarnabasRoman catholic church in Bellmore

above, 9-11 Field of Heroes in Bellmore.


LL iicceennsseedd BBrrookkeerr AAssssoocc iiaattee

Cell 695-8462www.tinacanaris.com

HeartHstone

7655AU2211JB

2059 Merrick Road, Merrick267-6081

• 25 yrs. of Real Estate Sales

• 2010 Awarded #1 Agent on LI

• 2010 Awarded #2 Agent in NYS

• National Register’s Who’s Who

“God understands our prayers even when we can’t find the words to say them”

– Author Unknown

TT IINNAA CCAANNAARRIISS

1704 merrick road,

merrickphone: 516.378.3455

fax: 516.378.3605

www.bagelplaza.com

7688AU2911JB

We WIll

alWays

remember

throughout the morning, officialsevacuate high-profile buildings, govern-ment offices, landmarks and publicspaces in response to rumors of esca-lating attacks.

9:57 a.m.Fight for Flight 93

Flight 93’s passengers are believedto have collectively voted to mount acounterattack against the hijackers.twelve of Flight 93’s 40 passengersand crew manage to alert loved onesand authorities to the plane’s hijacking.at least five learn about the attacks onthe World trade center or thepentagon.

9:59 a.m.South Tower of World Trade Centercollapses

after burning for 56 minutes, theSouth tower collapses in 10 seconds,killing hundreds of workers and firstresponders in the building and sur-rounding area.

as the South tower collapses, dustand debris engulf the streets near theWorld trade center. Many flee, seek-ing shelter in surrounding buildings.

When the World trade center tow-ers collapse, huge pieces of the steelfacade fall to the earth, causing

L&

M P

ubli

cati

ons

•9.1

1.0

1:

te

n y

ea

rs

la

te

r•

Pag

e 4A 9.11.01: Ten YeaRS LaTeR

“He was a wonderful husband and father. We had a good life and i have wonderful memories. only one regret, to lose him so soon...”

– Katie Stern of Bellmore speaking about husband andrew Stern

above, north Bellmore Fire department plaza.

Strength is also found in our children who, without knowing it, offer a greatexample of how to get back to doing ordinary things with a hopeful outlook.

When my oldest son, now 10, heard about the twin towers tragedy, he want-ed to know if he could help other children who lost fathers. “i know what’s it’slike,” he said.

My younger son added, “Yeah, those kids have to know that some dads nevercome back but they still have the rest of their family.”

– nancy Hiler of north Bellmore

above, Fire department Memorial, pettit avenue, Bellmore.

at right, Heroes’ Walk, twin Lakes, Wantagh. continued on page 6a

County Legislator

Dave Denenbergand Family

2818 Merrick Road, Bellmore(516) 409-6623

7684AU2911PR

In memory of all those who

lost their lives on

september 11, 2001.

Dr. Landrio Dr. Scheid546-4800 546-3227

Optometrists2126 Merrick Mall, Merrick, NY 11566

7659AU2211JB

We remember the tragicevents of September 11, 2001on this tenth year anniversary

and always.

Pag

e 5A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns •

9.11

.01: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er


“We are all in your debt. nobody can take your daddy from you because he helped tomake you. all those qualities which were in your daddy are in you.”

– Mayor Rudolph giuliani at memorial Mass for Baldwin firefighter Brian Mcaleese.

at left, a poster that hung on St. Luke’s place in Baldwin.

Select-A-Home /Island South Realty Corp.

servIng the merrIcks for over 32 years.

7642AU1511ES

We shall never forget...those who were lost...those who have served...

538 BroadholloW road

Melville, NY 11724

631-348-6999

We Will Never Forget

7703SP511ES

Sunrise 9/11 memorial Sunday

American Legion memorial

Hempstead town will hold an ecumeni-cal service of remembrance alongside thewaters of the atlantic on the 10th anniver-sary of September 11. Join SupervisorKate Murray, members of the Hempsteadtown Board, clergy, families of victims,and neighbors and friends for an opportu-nity for personal reflection and renewal.

Friends, family and neighbors will crossa specially constructed pedestrian bridge

that will traverse a 30-foot steel beamrecovered from the World trade center.the beam will be suspended over areflecting pool upon which participants willcast white carnations. there will also be adove release and a choir.

the memorial begins at 7:30 a.m. attown park, point Lookout, Lido Boulevardin point Lookout. pre-event activities willbegin at 4:30 a.m.

Merrick’s post 1282 of the americanLegion will host a 9/11 commemorativeceremony at the Veterans Memorial parkon Merrick and Lee avenues on Sunday,September 11, at 10 a.m.

the post recently undertook a beautifi-cation project at the park. the project wascentered around a 9/11 Memorial Stonethat had been dedicated to those who losttheir lives on 9/11.

all of us will be affected. it isn’t possible that any of us won’t have a relative or a friend,or a friend of a friend who isn’t gone. it has to be. Before our eyes, new York got sosmall, so fast.”

– Patricia Buchenberger of Wantagh

L&

M P

ubli

cati

ons

•9.1

1.0

1:

te

n y

ea

rs

la

te

r•

Pag


enormous damage to nearby buildingsand significant loss of life.


Hijackers roll Flight 93 side-to-side,rapidly diving and climbing, in anattempt to knock passengers and crewoff balance as they attempt to storm thecockpit. eyewitnesses on the groundreport the aircraft’s erratic flight, endingwith the sound of a crash.

to prevent passengers from retakingthe airplane, hijackers deliberatelycrash Flight 93 in a field in Somersetcounty, pennsylvania, killing all 40 pas-sengers and crew. the crash site isapproximately 20 minutes flying timefrom Washington, dc.

10:15 a.m.Pentagon E Ring collapses

the damaged section of thepentagon’s outermost offices, known asthe e Ring, collapses. no rescue work-ers are injured. Several times through-out the morning, speculation and misin-formation about additional hijackedplanes cause the cessation of rescueoperations and evacuation of emer-gency workers.

While the rescue effort continues,many department of defense (dod)employees return to work in the unaf-fected half of the pentagon. thenational Military command center(nMcc), located on the far side of thepentagon, coordinates the u.S. militaryresponse to the 9/11 attacks. nMccofficers initiate a conference call withfederal and military responders thatcontinues throughout the day.

10:28 a.m.North Tower of World Trade Centercollapses

the north tower collapses after burn-ing for 102 minutes, killing hundreds ofpeople in the building and the surround-ing area. of the 16,000 to 19,000 peoplein the north and South towers of theWorld trade center on 9/11, the vastmajority are evacuated safely. By theend of the day, all seven buildings at theWorld trade center were destroyed.

11:02 a.m.Evacuation of Lower Manhattan

then-new York city Mayor Rudolphgiuliani calls for the evacuation of allresidents, workers and tourists fromlower Manhattan.

all of lower Manhattan south of 14thStreet from the Hudson River to theeast River is officially closed to all but

emergency personnel, creating an areaknown as the “frozen zone.” throngs ofpeople crowd onto streets, highwaysand bridges to evacuate lowerManhattan. Many walk north or acrossbridges to Brooklyn.

thousands leave the island ofManhattan by boat in one of the largestwater evacuations since World War ii.

11:45 a.m.The president arrives at BarksdaleAir Force Base

president Bush orders air Force oneto land at Barksdale air Force Base inLouisiana, where he makes his first tele-vised remarks about the unfoldingevents. “the resolve of our great nationis being tested,” he says.

“But make no mistake, we will showthe world that we will pass this test. godbless.” although the president wants toreturn to Washington, dc, those pro-tecting him deem this unsafe. air Forceone heads towards offutt air ForceBase in nebraska, home of the u.S.Strategic command, where Mr. Bushuses its underground secure communi-cations network to confer with the WhiteHouse, the pentagon, the cia and theFBi. although his staff will prepare himto address the nation from the bunker,the president ultimately will insist onreturning to the nation’s capital.

12:16 p.m.American airspace cleared

the last commercial flight abovethe continental united States lands. intotal, air traffic controllers guide over4,000 commercial and private planesto airports throughout the unitedStates and in canada. Local authori-ties and residents create ad-hoc plansto provide food and shelter to strand-ed travelers.

1 p.m. and through the day, responseat the World Trade Center site

throughout the afternoon, volun-teers, first responders and constructionworkers arrive at the site to searchfor survivors. Firefighters, police offi-cers, paramedics and other emer-gency service workers stream to thesite to join in the firefight and rescueefforts. operations continue aroundthe clock.

3 p.m.FDNY rescues civilian PasqualeBuzzelli from the rubble ofStairwell B at WTC site

ultimately, only 18 people deeply

“driving around our towns i saw evidence of the hopeful heroic americanheart. in a spirit that cannot be conquered, flags lined the streets of the village.i was hard-put to drive down a block without seeing our star spangled banner.”

– Laraine Milazzo

above, Smithville, South Hook and Ladder company

of the north Bellmore Fire department.


merrick chamber of commerce771-1171 • merrickchamber.org

“Think Merrick First & Shop Locally” Randy ShotlandPresident

10 years later...

still we salute, still we remember.

7643AU1511ES

Pag

e 7A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns •

9.11

.01: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er


embedded in the debris pulled them-selves out or were rescued, including14 who were together in the shaft ofa north tower stairwell. the last sur-vivor was found only 26 hours afterthe towers collapsed.

5:20 p.m.Collapse of 7 World Trade Center

Because lower Manhattan’swater l ines have been compro-mised, the FdnY cannot get waterto fight the flames. adjacent to thenorth tower, 7 World trade centerhad suffered significant damage inthe collapse. Fires caused by thecollapse of 1 Wtc lead to structur-al instabil ity, and ultimately, totalcollapse.

there are no casualties becausethe 47-story tower had been evacuat-ed that morning. However, the fall ofthe building sends first respondersracing away from the collapsing struc-ture to save their own lives.

8 p.m.Rescue workers locate trappedPAPD officers

Rescuers locate papd Sgt. JohnMcLoughlin and officer WilliamJimeno in the debris of the Worldtrade center.

they free officer Jimeno afterthree hours of dangerous tunnelingwork. Sgt. McLoughlin’s rescuetakes another eight hours. Rescueoperations continue throughout thenight. thousands of constructionworkers, first responders, and self-dispatched volunteers converge atground Zero to search for survivors,improvising bucket brigades toremove debris.

Workers will extricate the 18th sur-vivor, genelle guzman, from theremains of Stairwell B on the after-noon of September 12, the last per-son rescued alive.

“From the tears of children and the ashen faces of mothers around us, youknew there were husbands and sons and daughters, sisters and brothers stillunaccounted for.”

– patricia Buchenberger

above, Seaford High School Memorial.

“our lives have changed. things are different. together we can push pastthese difficult times, though it will not be short and it will never be businessas usual.”

– Former Wantaghite u.S. air Force Lieutenant colonel Melissa R. Kallett

above, Forest city park, Wantagh.

“Freeport, like many other communities, has been affected by the terrible lossof human life and it will be a long time before we will be healed.”

– then-Freeport Mayor William glacken

above, Lighthouse Memorial, South Bayview avenue, Freeport.

We’ll AlwaysRemember

MARY ELMORE REALTY

Marian Fraker-Gutin124 Merrick Avenue #11, Merrick

868-6660

7669AU2911JB

Merrick Jewish Centre225 Fox BoulevardMerrick, NY 11566

378-8384

7704SP511JB

On this 10 year anniversary,we solemnly remember

the events of September 11, 2011and pray for our

community and country

Mourning 9/11: Move to make a tributeLooking back at the events of 9/11 i think about how we have mourned as a country, as

new Yorkers, and as individual people. personally, every year i become consumed with grief

over this event. it begins before the anniversary with all the tributes and reminders in the

media, and continues well after the date.

there are few events in our lifetime that change and effect every day of our lives. i have

often felt guilty about mourning 9/11. i knew people who were killed and was forever heart-

broken by the loss, but i always thought the mourning process was reserved for those much

closer to the victims.

over the years, as part of this community newspaper, i have spoken with many fami-

lies of the victims. a recent discussion with one family, the widow felt she could never

grieve privately since everyone knew of her loss and always would. it was almost as

though she wore a “scarlet letter” which everyone saw.

another talked of the attention given to her story, but which never focused on her grief,

loss and pain – she simply painted a picture of strength and perseverance.

"i still go to bed alone each night, and cry behind my bedroom doors," she said. "i

always will."

So, with this public tragedy comes pri-

vate pain. as with many things that are dif-

ficult to discuss, it is this private pain in pub-

lic that often gets glossed over. For every

family that has become stronger because

of 9/11, there are families that have been

destroyed – for one reason or another – by

the events.

Something everyone may consider…“i will” is a 9/11 tribute movement sponsored by 911day.org that asks people to post

online what they will do this year to remember: a good deed, a charitable activity or other

plans to honor all the 9/11 victims, survivors and those that have come to service in

response to the attacks. it is this thought: that underscores the grief and mourning does

affect everyone.

Whether you are directly affected by the loss or not, this tragedy touches us all, and i can

grieve and mourn the moment our lives and country were forever changed. – Erin Donohue

Pag

e 7A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns •

9.11

.01: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er

L&

M P

ubli

cati

ons

•9.1

1.0

1:

te

n y

ea

rs

la

te

r•

Pag


“My father told me, ‘You see this[FdnY uniform] – heroes die in thisuniform.”

– tommy gies, son of new Yorkcity Firefighter Ronnie gies,

at his funeral service.

at left, Firefighters Memorial at

Merrick train station.

“My heart aches for you...”– Jeannine Balnis of Merrick in a

open letter to families who lostsomeone on 9-11

above, Merrick Memorial park,

Hewlett avenue.

7687AU2911JB

Dr. Leon Livingston, Dr. Douglas Livingston and their Associates and Staff at

Livingston Foot Care Specialists1685 Newbridge Road

North Bellmore, NY 11710516-826-0103

Wish to remember those lost on 9-11and to express our sincere support

for the families who have suffered so much.

Editor’s note:

Stacey Stone of Bellmore is thewidow of Lonny Stone, who diedthe morning of September 11,2001, when a plane crashed intothe north tower of the World TradeCenter where Mr. Stone workedon the 93rd floor for Carr Futures.Mr. Stone was 43. In addition tohis wife, Stacey, he has two sons,Alex and Joshua, now 22 and 18years old. The following is a poemwritten by Mrs. Stone:

9/11/01....Ten Years....

A Decade....

such a long time and yet

only yesterday.

ten years since that beautifultuesday morning when he said tome, “Bye dear, i love you; see youlater. ” there was no later. it was the last time that i heard hisvoice in our house.

ten years and there is still somuch that i do not Know.i do not know if the phone call imissed that morning as i left thehouse was him;i do not know what really hap-pened “there.”i do not know if he suffered.i do not know what closure is.i do not know how this could havehappened.i do not know how to take the painaway from our boys.

i do not know where they havefound the courage that they havealways shown.i do not know how we made itthrough the last 10 years...

and yet there is So much that iknow.i know that life is not always fair.i know that no one is guaranteedtomorrow.i know that you choose your path to


The Seasonsby Eileen Dever

three days after the scolding windsof Hurricane irene, residents of theSeasons, the over-55 community westof Merrick avenue, east Meadow,gathered in warm sun and calm for apatriotic remembrance of 9/11.

Members of the american Legionpost 144 did hoist the american flag topeak on the newly placed pole in frontof the Seasons clubhouse before low-ering it to half-mast, the symbol ofmourning.

Four families of the new communi-ty had suffered the loss of sons anda nephew in the infamous Worldtrade center attack. in tribute, over100 residents participated in theremembrance.

Mrs. thomas (pat) crotty, whoseson tom died on 9/11, read from aeulogy written by her son’s high schoolbasketball coach, Bill donlon, a facultymember of Maria Regina School atthat time.

Monica Homer read the poem,“i’m Free” in honor of both Matthewgrzymalski, son of pat grzymalski,and his fiancée Kaleen pezzuti. thecouple died in the same tower.

Joyce Simon read a poem written byresident Marilyn Weinberg, in honor ofher son Steven Weinberg.

also remembered was Marionordon, nephew of resident tonynordon.

Rabbi anchell perl from Mineolaspoke of the inner strength and shareddesire to protect the world – to grieve

yet triumph with positive acts – on thispainful 10-year anniversary. countyLegislator norma gonsalves asked forprayers for grieving families in thehope they find some peace.Hempstead town councilman gary

Hudes spoke on behalf of townSupervisor Kate Murray.

Resident Harold Sweet led the audi-ence in “the Star Spangled Banner” inhis rich baritone. Father Jack custer,of St. andrew’s church, thanked all

who risked their lives in uniform andcivilians on that day. “Build a newJerusalem with our lives – as we seekafter peace.”

a positive for tomorrow – groundZero sends a message of hope.

Stacey Stone remembers...


Pag

e 9A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns •

9.11

.01: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er

9/11 STAINED GLASS WINDOW at Sacred Heart church in north Merrick. inset, pat crotty speaks at a 9/11 cere-

mony at the Seasons in east Meadow. inset photo by eileen dever

your local

real estate company

your local realtor

7658AU2211JB

Select-A-Home /Island South Realty Corp.223-9463 • 324 merrick ave, merrick

(Across from 7 Eleven)

JJuuddyy AA.. PPeerrnn ii cceeLL iicceennsseedd RR..EE .. SSaalleessppeerrssoonnCCee ll ll –– ((551166)) 447744--88662277

You are forever

in our hearts

tomorrow.i know that you choose your path in life.i know that he faced horror in his lastminutes. i know we have to liveknowing that.i know that you find strength that younever knew you had.i know that all our milestones arelaced with sadness.i know that he never got to see hisboys grow up.i know that in the short time they hadwith him, he taught his boys how tobe men by the way he lived his life.i know that life is for the living andthat life can be good.i know that it was...and still is...myjob to teach that to our sons.i know that he will be missed forever.i know that i did the very best that icould.

10 years later

– another lifetime

by Stacey Stone

i look back at where we were at thebeginning of this “journey” and all i canremember is the overwhelming griefand fear. our boys, Joshua and alex,were only 8 and 12 years old. this wasa nightmare. it was impossible tobelieve that Lonny was gone.

But then reality hits you in the face.our family of four was now a family ofthree and we had to find our way.

at first you live minute-by-minuteand then you realize you are facedwith a choice. either you can give in tothe sadness and pain and let it para-lyze you, or you can choose toembrace life.

i made the choice to be responsible,not just to make a life for myself butone for our children. With the help ofincredible family and friends, i tookthose first steps into this new life – thenew “normal.”

But, this was not the life i knew. thisnew “life” was now filled with endlessresponsibilities; filled with constantreminders of that horrific day – e-mails

filled with information, newspapersand tV filled with images that you willnever forget.

one year became two in the blink ofan eye. Life goes on around you andyou realize that you have to be a partof it...you want to be a part of it. Youbegin to climb out.

time marches on. i worried thatpeople would forget Lonny. Birthdaysand holidays came and went – two barmitzvahs, two high school gradua-tions, a college graduation...allreminders of what is missing.

the years fly by. Four years turnedinto five. the boys grew up so fast.

i see so much of Lonny in his sons.Some days it makes me smile andsome days it breaks my heart. i amincredibly proud of who they havebecome. i know he would be just asproud.

then, fate played me another handand brought me another amazing maninto my life. once again, i knew what itwas to love and be loved.

no one is meant to be alone. Life isso much sweeter when you havesomeone to share it with. i know

Lonny sent this new love my way. ten years...so hard to believe. For

so many years i never believed therewould be anything beyond thistragedy. But my family is proof thatthere is life and love on the other sideof tragedy.

Lonny is forever in our hearts. Weknow that he is watching over us. Hewould never leave his boys.

Before you go to sleep tonight, tellyour children how much you lovethem. Hug your husband or wife a littletighter. Remember to tell the peopleyou love how you feel. You may neverget another chance.

and when you wake up on Sundaymorning and it is once againSeptember 11th, please rememberLonny.

Maybe he passed through your lifeas the guy who coached your son insoccer; maybe he was your friend orneighbor or just the guy you some-times passed on the street.

Remember the tall handsomeman with the big smile.

Remember all of them.they all mattered so very much

and they are all terribly missed.


LONNY STONE with his sons alex and Joshua at Six Flags on august 24,

2001.

TEN YEARS LATER: alex and Joshua at a family party celebrating alex’s

college graduation and Joshua’s high school graduation.

from page 9A

L&

M P

ubli

cati

ons

•9.1

1.0

1:

te

n y

ea

rs

la

te

r•

Pag

e 10A

7657AU2211PR

We shall forever honor and

appreciate the sacrifices

made on September 11, 2001

by the victims, heroes,

and their families.

LAw OfficES Of

EdwARd A. BERnStEin, ESq.

1745 MERRick AvEnuE, MERRick

516-868-6688 fine Italian cuisine & pizza

est. 1979 bellmore 516-679-8787

on or off premIse

caterIng specIalIsts

2770 sunrise highway,

bellmore

679-8787

piccoloristorante.com

Never

Forget

7692AU2911JB

pag

e 11A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns • 9

.11.0

1: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er

in december of 2006, Jack Healyreported in Merrick Life theaccounts of the memorial servicefor fire Lieutenant Ronald Kerwin.

the 42-year-old firefighter was a20-year veteran of the new Yorkcity Fire department assigned toSquad 288 in Maspeth. He is sur-vived by his wife, from Bellmore,

and three children.on the morning of September 11,

2001, Lt. Kerwin responded withmembers of Squad 288 to theattack. at the time of the MerrickLife story, it was unknown exactlywhich tower the company was induring the collapse since no mem-bers of the squad had been found.

Ron Kerwin joined the LevittownFire department as a volunteer inJuly 1985. He moved up the ranksand served as captain in 1989 and1990, then elected deputy chief in1994. at the time of his death, RonKerwin was once again chief of theLevittown Fire department and rid-ing with adam Rand to the Wtc.

Firefighters from as far away asireland attended the memorialservices in addition to members ofthe FdnY and upstate fire depart-ments and locals from Bellmore,east Meadow, Levittown,Massapequa, Merrick, northBellmore, north Merrick, Seafordand Wantagh.


In memory of...

Remembering firefighter Kevin M. Prior on the 10th Anniversary...

by Marian Prior

does it seem like 10 years?…or just yester-day?

We have celebrated milestones of childrenin the family who were not even born whenKevin died. the passage of 10 years time ismarked by holidays and special occasions, aswell as family gatherings for no particular rea-son, where Kevin’s lively participation isalways missed.

He died a hero, doing what he loved. as afirefighter, he knew the danger, accepted therisks and loved the camaraderie and theexcitement of the “best job in the world.” Hislieutenant at Squad 252 said of Kevin: “…hewas a helluva firefighter, young, tough andaggressive, a real team player. always willingto do his part. no challenge too great.Whether it was becoming a chauffeur, or rap-pelling down the side of the towers at the coned plant as part of our training. He wasalways in the thick of it.

“When Kevin and i would team up at ajob, i always felt comfortable that hewould be there for me when i neededhelp. Kevin was a natural at what he did.He did the company and the departmentproud.”

i share that pride, rememberingKevin’s unwavering dedication to the jobhe loved, the job he looked forward tofrom his boyhood. it helps my heart toknow that he was so happy as a firefight-er, happy to be part of the “brotherhood.”

But we miss Kevin. Sometimes when i thinkof all that Kevin looked forward to and wasdenied by the tragedy of 9/11, and when i’mmissing his lively presence in our lives, thetears just come. i have found inspiration inRosanne pellicane’s 2001 poem: “do notgrieve and linger in the shadows of graves.go out into the sunshine and tell everyone

that i was here.” Kevin would want us to walk in the sunshine

and be proud of him and the life he lived, andthe job he did. He would want us to enjoy lifeas he did.

He was so full of life, so enthusiastic, sopositive. and so, we are happy to share thejoy he was in our lives, and the memories heleft us, even as we honor his sacrifice andmiss him every day.

We celebrate his humor, his enthusi-asm, his antics, his practical and positivenature. When Kevin’s cousin serves up a“round” of Jameson at the family’schristmas gathering, we rememberKevin, and how he loved a celebration.

We’ve honored him with a tree plantingin Wantagh park, a meaningful memorialoverlooking the place where he launchedhis Jet Ski and docked his boat. We’vehonored him in the renaming of the streetwhere he lived his whole life…the streetwhere, as a boy, he would race off on his biketo see the fire trucks rushing to a call.

We were in powhatan, Virginia, where thededication of a flag pole and plaque honoredhis sacrifice at the local firedepartment…indeed, Kevin’s sacrifice is hon-ored across this country in memorials i’ve notseen, as well as in ireland, where cousinshave told us of tributes on the “old sod.”

and Kevin’s part in the story of 9-11 will betold as the national September 11 Memorialand Museum in new York city displays hishelmet that was recovered with his remainsthree weeks after the collapse of the Wtc.

the sadness will always be with us. Kevin’svibrant presence will always be missed. Butthe memories he left us inspire us to enjoy life.

inevitably, remembering Kevin bringssmiles, even laughter, when treasured memo-ries are shared.

ONE LAST STAND:

above Kevin prior’s

last known picture

while at the Wtc. at

right Mr. prior exhibits

his rappelling skills.

courtesy of the prior family


516.623.4500

7654AU2211JB

We At Prudential Douglas Elliman Remember Those Members Of Our Community

Who Lost Their Lives On September 11, 2001.

We Continue To Grieve With Their Families And Loved Ones.

pag

e 12A

• L

&M

Publi

cati

ons

• 9.1

1.0

1:

te

n y

ea

rs

la

te

r

FIREFIGHTER GARY BOx on his way to the World trade center on

September 11, 2001. courtesy of 9/11 Memorial Museum. photo by erik troelsen

by Mary Ann Rand

What have the past 10 years beenlike since that awful day inSeptember? the first article i gaveto Bellmore Life was more like a“press release” commenting onwhat adam was like and how painfulit has been, not how i felt.

Yes, it is still very painful, and partof every day there are tears.

there are also wonderful memo-ries of fun times as a whole familyon vacations on the beach ingreeport, as well as adam’s impishwit. Some of the stories his friendshave told me about his antics makeme blush, but they are full of love.

a grief counselor once told methat there would always be griefbut you learn to cope with it. Shewas right.

i still can’t stand to watch all thetV shows commemorating 9/11. it isstill too much to bear. that dayremains “in your face,” as there arefrequent announcements to eventsat the site and tickets to functions,as well as tV coverage.

His brother and sister wonderwhat it would have been like to raise

their families together. His fianceeat the time is still a good friend ofthe family who visits quite often withher daughter, whom i adore. can’thelp but think what their child wouldhave been like...

We love our friends at theBellmore Fire department for theirtireless devotion and loyalty. theyare always there for us.

We will spend the 10th anniver-sary with our family, with theBellmore Fire department, HolyRood cemetary and St. Barnabasfor the memorial mass.

that is where he is.

the Bellmore Fire departmentwill hold a ceremonial mass at StBarnabas Rc church on Sunday,September 11, at 5 p.m. at 7 p.m.the fire deparment will hold a cer-emony at the new memorial infront of the headquarters on pettitavenue to honor their fallen fire-fighters.


Remembering my son, Adam Rand...

MFD 9/11 memorial

ceremony set...the Merrick Fire department will-

hold a memorial ceremony onSunday, September 11, at 2 p.m. atthe corner of Sunrise Highway andMerrick avenue, where the currentFirefighters’ Memorial is.

Merrick Life has learned there areplans to move the memorial statuesand install remnants from the twintowers wreckage closer into theplaza area so that it may serve as aplace of reflection and solace for thecommunity.

-E.D.

9/11 victims from Bellmore-Merrick...

From Bellmore and NorthBellmore: Lawrence i. Beck; gary R.

Box; Michael Joseph cawley; Joni

cesta; William esposito; Bruce gary;

Jane eileen Josiah; Manuel d.

Mojica; Kevin prior; adam david

Rand; andrew Stern; Lonny J. Stone;

Michael andrew tamuccio and

Stephen Weinberg.

From Merrick and North Merrick:paul James Battaglia; Mark adam

Brisman; Herman charles Broghammer;

thomas g. crotty; Ronnie e gies;

david Joseph grimner; aram

iskenderian Jr.; James “Kells” Kelly;

Farrell peter Lynch; Sean patrick Lynch;

thomas McHale; Katie Mcgarry noack;

Brian e. Sweeney; John damien

Vaccacio and Frank J. Vignola Jr.

Adam Rand

BFD 9/11 memorial

ceremony set...

516•297•9341 cellwww.prudentialelliman.com

susan sorIdlIcensed assocIate broker


In solemn remembrance and loving memoryon this 10th anniversary of September 11

7707SP511JB

pag

e 13A

• L&

M P

ublicatio

ns • 9

.11.0

1: t

en

ye

ar

s l

at

er


2464 Merrick Road, Bellmore ¥ 783-5900 ¥ Century21Prevete.com

7705SP511JBWe will never forget!

above, rebuilding the World trade center, photo taken thursday, September 1, 2011,

by Morgan Schofer.

“everything was so quiet; there were no sounds at all. an eerie quiet. thepeople were walking around dazed and in a state of shock. a lot of themwere wounded and covered from head to toe with this white dust, and somewere bleeding. there were fires on both sides of the block including cars, firetrucks and buses...”

– Bill Bennett, Freeport Fire department photographer at scene.

above, the ruins of the World trade center, photo by Bill Bennett.

Remembering what was said“She was my energy. She had

more life and strength. She was ago-getter – she aspired for a lot andaimed high.”

– Ellen Macri, speaking of hersister Katie McGarry Noack of

North Merrick

“they were buddies, those two;funny good men.”

– Mr. & Mrs. Lynch speaking oftheir two sons,

Farrell and Sean Lynch

“Kells was a person who loved lifeand lived it fully with a uniquely irishsense of humor.”

– Joseph Kelly speaking of hisson James Joseph Kelly

“He would not believe how manypeople came – how may people hetouched in his short life. He was sounassuming.”

– Pat Crotty, mother of Thomas Crotty

i remember him as a hell of a fire-man.”

– Dick and Dorothy Worrall in aletter about their friend,Firefighter Ronnie Gies

“He was the eucharistic minister [atSacred Heart church] with the won-derful smile.”

– from obituary of HermanBroghammer of North Merrick

“although our tears are endless, and our grief rises from the depths of ourbeing, that alone is not sufficient to honor the memories of the victims. Letus take the rubble, the ash, the horror of the world disaster we have knownand fashion from it a new american dream.” – Merokian Natilee Mintz

9.11.01: TEN YEARS LATER

L&MPublications•9

.11.0

1:TE

NY

EAR

SLA

TER•Page14A

LIGHT MEMORIAL RISES IN WAKE OF 2001 AFTERMATH: These revealing photos were taken from the shoresof New Jersey after the World Trade Center was attacked and collapsed on September 11, 2001.

photos by Jack Healy (left) and Patricia McKay (right)

Looking back andlooking ahead

This week your community newspaper is publishing a spe-cial commemorative section looking back at the events ofSeptember 11, 2001, and the following weeks. Local public-spirited businesses are helping sponsor these pages, just asmany of them helped us provide a pull-out flag we printed adecade ago, when flags were suddenly in short supply. Somany people suddenly wanted to display the flag to show theirlove of this country.That groundswell of love was the silver lining of a dark cloud

of sorrow that hung over us at that time. This newspaper chron-icled many acts of local heroism born of 9/11. As we wrote then,“No one could imagine when the news of the disaster first hitthat so many local firefighters and police would lose their livesin it. And we have heard tales of local people escaping theinferno who stopped to help others and are now missing. Welive among heroes.”

Those first responders should always be among the honoredguests at 9/11 anniversary commemoration ceremonies at thesite.

Our community came together as a family. Candlelight vigilswere held. Local houses of worship opened their doors to all.Blood drives were held. Water bottles, food and clothing werecollected for the recovery workers. Monies were collected forthe grieving families. Other resources were also mustered forthem, such as counseling services, child care, financial adviceand real estate services.

In following years, many memorials were created to honorthe memory of the 9/11 victims. It was as if we wanted to put instone or iron the message that “We will never forget.”But perhaps the most lasting memorial is in the souls of those

children whose drawings and poems were printed in their com-munity newspaper. It is in the hearts of those children who col-lected bottled water and supplies for first responders, and thosewho set up lemonade stands to raise money for 9/11 victimsand recovery efforts. Their generation is our future. In fact,2001, more than 2000, marked the end of an era and the begin-ning of another.

- Linda Toscano, Publisher

Reporting from the heart:9/11 legacy – A letter to Pop Pop

BILL’S FAMILY: From left are Donna, Deanine, wife Barbara, Diana andgrandson Frankie Devito.

by Erin Donohue

It’s amazing how social networkinghas changed our lives and in somecases has given us the opportunity tolearn things about our friends that wewouldn’t normally know. To me, thisis one such case, in which I got toknow Diana DeVito (of NorthMerrick) a few years ago, as she is aneighbor of one of my close friendsand like all such relationships, webecame “friends” on Facebook. It isthere that I discovered Diana’s dad,William (Bill) Steckman, 56, waskilled in the terror attacks onSeptember 11, 2001.Bill Steckman was a transmitter

engineer for NBC-TV. He alwaysworked out of the station’s WorldTrade Center location and, as manystories have come to be told, heshould have been home by the timeof the event. He had worked for NBC

since 1967, and was on the 104thfloor of the North Tower, just belowthe needle.He left behind his high-school

sweetheart wife, Barbara, daughtersDonna, Deanine, Debbie, Diana andson Billy – as well as numerousmemories as a husband, father andgrandparent.The family was always close, his

wife Barbara said. “It wasn’t like webecame closer, we were always thatway.”Bill learned his trade of electronics

in the Coast Guard. After his dis-charge he taught himself more in thefield and was always bringing equip-ment home, fixing things. The neigh-bors thought perhaps “Bill was a spywith all the wires and dishes we hadcoming out of the house,” Barbarasaid.His daughters joined in to reflect

continued on page 15A

by Douglas Finlay

“This is the perfect piece,” saidNorth Bellmore resident EdVinciguerra.“When our firefighters come

out of the bays to go to a fire,they will look over and it willremind them of what this job isall about,” added North BellmoreChief Ed Kraus.What both described with a

deep emotion is the piece ofsteel from the World TradeCenter that was installed lastweek at the North Bellmore FireDepartment’s new FireDepartment Plaza triangle.The World Trade Center steel

will be the centerpiece of a 9/11memorial to be held at the plazaon September 11, beginning at11 a.m.The five-ton piece, which looks

like the Twin Towers of the WorldTrade Center, is the culminationof two years of work begun bythe fire department to memorial-ize – on the 10th anniversary ofthe day that shook the world –those who lost their lives in theWorld Trade Center collapse.While the North Bellmore Fire

Department lost no firefightersthat day, “This is really a tributeto all of those who were lost on9/11,” Chief Kraus said of themoving memorial.Said ex-Chief Arthur White

after the last bolt hadbeen screwed down tosecure the base, “Thisis a moving moment, it’swhy we did this.”

Rooms full of historyThe Twin Towers-

shaped piece of WorldTrade Center steel wasone of roughly 1,200pieces of steel from thecollapse that becameavailable from the PortAuthority of New Yorkand New Jersey overtwo years ago.Mr. Vinciguerra, who

is the structural mainte-nance engineer for thePort Authority, said theauthority obtained thesteel and wanted to pro-vide communities withopportunities to takepossession of the his-torical structures.“Once we sent word out

around the country, webegan to receive lettersfrom fire departments,police departments andschools that wanted toreceive the available struc-tures,” he said.He said that, while

starting with some 1,200pieces, there are nowfewer than 300 piecesleft.He said the process to

own a piece of World

Trade Center steel is a detailedone, involving several months ofprocessing – and approval by thecourts.“Every piece in the facility has

to be accounted for, and thensigned off by the courts forrecording purposes,” he said, sothere will be a record of every-where the structures went.To be sure, “There are no pri-

vate owners,” he said.He said that WTC structures

have made their way to Pompeii,Italy, to Germany, to every statein the country and to severalother countries around the world– and to Brookside School inNorth Merrick.Chief Kraus – who revealed

that Adam Rand and Kevin Priorof the Bellmore Fire Department,who died on 9/11, were hisfriends and mentors – said thatthe fire department came intopossession of two steel struc-tures of the World Trade Center,and believes that the departmenthas placed the structures strate-gically to promote NorthBellmore’s compassion andremembrance of those who losttheir lives on September 11.“One has been placed at the

Smithville facility so that those whoenter North Bellmore from the southon Newbridge Road will see thestructure.”

Additional photo on page 16A.

about their dad’s electronic skills,while they were growing up in the’70s and ’80s. He had installed acamera and intercom outside thefront door, viewable from his base-ment work room he could talk topeople who visited. Bill had createdwhat nowadays would be consid-ered an early version of Skype.With a radio, a camera and some

other goodies, he was able to trans-port an audiovisual image to anotherlocation. His “friend” (usually anotherelectronics buff in another country)on the receiving end was able to con-nect back by using special call lettersunique to Bill’s location. “Genius,” hisdaughters and wife agreed, smilingand telling stories about his love ofelectronics.On the 10th anniversary of this

horrific event, I sat down with Diana,her mom and sisters, and listened tothe story about their husband andfather. Also present was Diana’sson, Frankie, who is entering 10thgrade at Calhoun High School andplays football for the junior varsityColts. Frankie’s feeling of loss, as forthe rest of the family, was great. Hespent every day with his grandpar-ents, and at the time of his grandfa-ther Bill’s death, was just beginningkindergarten at Fayette School.The family became involved with

many support groups after the 9/11tragedy. One particular group,Tuesday’s Children, is a big part oftheir life. The group recently pub-lished a book called “The LegacyLetters, Messages of Life and Hopefrom 9/11 Family Members,” whichfeatures a letter Frankie wrote (pre-sent day) to his grandfather, whomeant so much to him.Tuesday’s Children describes the

book as “a compilation of 100 letterswritten to those who were lost. Thebook shares stories of resiliencethat honor the memory of each per-son through the full lives their familymembers are leading today.”Both Diana and Frankie wrote sub-

missions for the book, and choosingone per family, Frankie’s appearsalong with a photo of him and hisgrandfather.Here is an excerpt of Frankie

DeVito’s letter in “The LegacyLetters”:

Dear Pop Pop,I was five years old on 9/11, too

young to understand what really

happened. When I found out youhad passed away, I was devastated.You were my favorite person and Iwould never be able to see youagain…You always taught me to live life to

the fullest and enjoy everything that Ican. I’ll never forget when you prom-ised to take me to your work in theTwin Towers. I loved tugboats andyou wanted to take me there whenthe tugboats passed by. Now, everyyear when this tragic day comesaround, I relive the good times wehad together that I will remember forthe rest of my life.

Forever missing you,Frankie

Diana’s wordsNot in the book are Diana’s words

about her father. She wrote abouthow her dad found a starfish on thebeach one day while out boating withhis grandkids. She looked up“starfish” on the computer and cameup with a great story to pass along.“The story is about a man walking

along a beach where there werehundreds of starfish that were goingto die because they were not in thewater. He began picking up thestarfish and throwing them back inthe water. A stranger yells out, “Itwon’t make a difference, you can’tsave them all.” But the man contin-ued throwing the fish back in, say-ing “I made a difference to that one”each time.Diana continues, “My dad cer-

tainly made a difference in my lifeand I have to believe he helpedpeople get out of the building thatday, and did make a difference.”

William (Bill) Steckmanand Frankie DeVito

9.11.01: TEN YEARS LATERReporting from the heart:

9/11 legacy – A letter to Pop PopTwin Towers

commemoration coming

At the North Bellmore memorial plaza, above.The structure is placed to remember all whoperished on 9/11.

Merrick Life photos by Douglas FInlay

Page15A

•L&MPublications•9.11.01:TEN

YEA

RS

LATER

L&M Publications thanksRobert L. Harrison

for his work photographing the monumentsdedicated to 9/11 in the towns we cover.

Mr. Harrison has completed a similar projectthrough this alma mater, Hofstra University,

capturing photographs of memorials inboth Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

from page 14A

FOREVER IN THEIR HEARTS: From left, former North Bellmore Fire Chief Angelo Catalano, current Fire Chief Ed Kraus, firefighter John Scalesi, firefighterSean Corcoran, former Fire Chief Arthur White, firefighter Joseph Vinciguerra, firefigher Mo Motamedian and resident Edward Vinceguerra pose after installingan authentic piece of the World Trade Center – shaped like the Twin Towers – at their memorial plaza.

Merrick Life photos by Douglas FInlay

9.11.01: TEN YEARS LATERL&

MPublications•9

.11.0

1:TE

NY

EAR

SLA

TER•Page16A

This is an updated version of astory originally printed in TheCitizen in 2002.

My chiropractor is a Ground Zerohero.One definition of a hero is: an

ordinary person who does extraor-dinary things. This is true of Dr.George Ruggi of the WantaghChiropractic Office on SunriseHighway, although I wouldn’t exact-ly describe him as an ordinary man.He’s active in three choirs, sings

solos and has sung for the Pope inRome. He was a research biologist,and taught at the New YorkChiropractic College before becom-ing a chiropractic student. He’s anavid skier and cook (his renownedpizza parties over the past 40 yearshave actually made the newspapers).At age 11, the Wantagh Kiwanis

Club presented him with itsOutstanding Achievement inCitizenship Award. He’s a pastpresident of the Wantagh Chamberof Commerce; he’s walked to col-lect money for migrant farm workersand AIDS research; and cycled in

the Tour de Cure fundraiser forAmerican diabetes. He hasreceived citations from the Town ofHempstead, county executives andstate senators. During the DesertStorm conflict, he sent “We Care”packages of food and toiletries toour troops. The list could continue,but I’d like to write of his work in theaftermath of the 9/11 attacks.It was as true then as it is today: the

attacks of September 11, 2001touched us all. But Dr. Ruggi tookaction. He volunteered his services onSeptember 12, promoting and singingin fundraisers for victims’ families.In local papers, he advertised

treatment available for any GroundZero rescue worker, in his office, atno charge. He was an AmericanRed Cross volunteer that year, fromOctober to the middle ofNovember, adjusting all in need atthe Ground Zero site. FromNovember to the end of recovery onMay 31, 2002, he worked at St.Paul’s Church, while also volunteer-ing his services at the SalvationArmy tent.In the months following the 9/11

attacks, Dr. Ruggi averaged 50-60hours per week in his Wantaghoffice, then worked an additional20-30 hours on weekends atGround Zero. Typically, He wouldthen close his office at 9 p.m. onFridays, head for Ground Zero,arriving at 10:30 p.m. He’d workcontinuously until early Saturdayafternoon, then with but a few hoursof sleep, he’d return again onSaturday night, working into

Sunday morning.With this level of volunteer work

consuming his weekends, his week-day office hours were extended inan effort to serve patients and catchup on work, thus adding greatly toongoing sleep deprivation. This rou-tine, together with his dedicationand lack of sleep, continued foreight months until the end ofGround Zero recovery. While mostof us quickly grow tired when stay-ing up all night, it’s difficult to imag-ine the ensuing state of exhaustionwhen pulling one or two all-nightersa week for eight months.Had Ground Zero recovery efforts

continued, Dr. Ruggi would havedoubtless remained to volunteer.He did so because there wereneeds he realized he could fulfill. Bytreating the rescue workers, he washelping in the rescue/recoveryefforts. He put his own needs andhealth concerns second to those ofthe Ground Zero workers. If youwere to ask him, he’d say that hegot as much as he gave because,“It’s in the giving that we receive.”

– Nancy Maia

Wantagh’s Dr. Ruggi: ‘A Ground Zero hero’

Dr. George Ruggi

WANTAGH FIRE DEPARTMENT MEMORIAL TO KEVIN DONNELLY:“During his tenure with the New York City fire department [Wantaghite KevinDonnelly] operated with or directed units that attained six Unit Citations,”recalled Harry Loud, the Wantagh Fire Department’s public information offi-cer. “In addition he was the recipient of four medals for ‘Acts of Heroism andBravery.’ The words ‘back out’ were not in his vocabulary. It was always ‘Movein. A little further and we got this fire.’ Before lawn care was the ‘in thing,’Kevin’s Lawn Service operated in the Levittown/Wantagh area. Many homeswere serviced by him and his crew. Many high school students had summerjobs working for Kevin. Whether he needed you or not, he would always tryto find a place for a young man to earn a few dollars.” Mr. Donnelly is survivedby his mother, Cecilia; father, Edward; two brothers, Edward and Brian, a sis-ter, Mary, and companion Mary Coughlin of Mineola.

WANTAGH’S 9-11 MEMORIALAT TRAIN STATION: “Lee [Fehling] was a life-long resident of Wantagh and had nearly 11 years of service in the WantaghFire Department. He was a beloved member of Station One and wasassigned to the ladder truck,” said Karl F McGinn, captain, Ladder One,Wantagh Fire Department. “Lee also devoted part of his time to the WantaghAmerican Legion where he played the bagpipes and marched in manyparades with them. Lee’s first love was his wife and family, with his job beinga close second, and he was a proud and well-liked member of the FDNY [FireDepartment of New York].” Firefighter Fehling is survived by his wife Danielleand two daughters, Kaitlin and Megan Lee.

photos by Robert L. Harrison

9.11.01: TEN YEARS LATER Page17A


YEA

RS

LATER

FIVE SEAFORD HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNIlost on 9-11 are remembered at the

Seaford High Memorial.

“Freeport, like many other communities, has been affected by the terrible lossof human life and it will be a long time before we will be healed.” former MayorWilliam Glacken.

Above: 9-11 MEMORIAL on South Bayview Avenue.

9.11.01: TEN YEARS LATERL&

MPublications•9

.11.0

1:TE

NY

EAR

SLA

TER•Page18A

Our friend and colleague, Laura Marcheseby Regina Feeney

Laura Marchese began working inthe Children’s Room of the FreeportLibrary as a high school page in1983. Her warm smile and cheerfuldisposition made her a favorite withchildren and their parents.“I loved taking my 5-year-old son tostory time when Laura was therebecause she was so good with chil-dren,” said Hope Schnee, currenthead of reference. Marie Regan,Children’s Room staff member, alsotook her son to story time. “Laura

was always enthusiastic. Anythingshe was asked to do, she did it anddid it well.”“I first met Laura when I started

working as a Circulation page in1985” said Regina Feeney, refer-ence librarian. "She had a smile thatcould light up a room and had sucha contagious laugh. She was some-one you could never forget.”Sharon Gabler, the library’s busi-ness manager, worked with Laura inthe Children's Room. “I remembergoing to Laura's house on our lunch

hour to watch our favorite soapopera, “Days of Our Lives.” Laura’smom would make us sandwiches.”Sharon also remembers when theydressed up for a library Halloweenprogram as Raggedy Ann and Andy.“We had so much fun.”In June 2003, Laura’s family,

friends, and former library co-work-ers planted a Kousa white dogwoodon the library’s front lawn. The

plaque reads: “In Loving Memory ofOur Friend and Fellow StaffMember, Laura Marchese, Victim ofSeptember 11, 2011.”On the Monday following

Hurricane Irene, Sharon came towork. Though her block was floodedshe wanted to make sure Laura’stree was still standing. “I was soworried about that tree. Thank Godnothing happened to it.”

IN LOVING MEMORY: Above, Laura Marchese at the library, as RaggedyAnn; below, the memorial plaque on the library’s front lawn.

REMEMBER...Freeport’s 9/11 victims are remembered in a memorial in thecourtyard of Village Hall, above.

As we all reflect on 9/11 the most impressivememories lie in the thoughts of our first respon-ders who put others before themselves. Acts ofterrorism as well as disasters will be with us inour future but the resolve to deal with them iswhat needs to be celebrated!911 is not just a date but associated with a cry

for help…there is not a moment that passeswhen those calls do not exist. It is important forus all to be reminded that we and our loved onescould be on either side of these events. How wereact to them is the true nature of who we reallyare as a community of people with more in com-mon than indifference.It is essential to keep such thoughts in our

minds always, as everyone is in partnership withour future and we must be willing to take thepersonal risks of today for the rewards of tomor-row.As tomorrow always comes we can only hope

that as long as we find a hammer, nails and afew boards, we will continue to build for thefuture with the same fervor and courage as ourparents and grandparents, and the echoes of theirhammers will resound hopefully through everycorner of the world.Hope is not a dream but a reality…how else

can we explain why we are still here today?Without hope wars and indifference would havedestroyed us long ago…

We at Freeport Auto Parts & Wrecking haveenjoyed the support of our community for over75 years and counting and look forward to everyopportunity to “pay it forward” in the future.All of us living in our unique “Long Island”

communities have a very special existence onthis very small and sometimes artificial planetwe share. When all seems fine we must be dili-gent in our reflection on our environment aswell. Nature does not have the luxury of a 911call out, but is indeed something we all have incommon to share.Collectively we have more in common than

not…consider that in-between thinking of eachother as both can be “the wind in our sails!”

JIM RUOCCO, PRESIDENT

FREEPORT AUTO PARTS & WRECKING CORP.122 BUFFALO AVE. FREEPORT NY

Freeport Fire Department deeply changed by 9/11The following article appeared in

The Leader issue of December 27,2001.

by Jason Gers

2001 was a year which tested thewill of Freeport’s firefighters, both intheir professional and personal lives.Six New York City firefighters from

Freeport were killed in the line ofduty when the World Trade Centercollapsed with them inside. TimothyHiggins, former member of FreeportHose 2, and Kenneth Watson, son ofFreeport ex-captain Andy Watsonand grandson of honorary chief AndyWatson, were recovered from therubble and laid to rest.Andre Fletcher, formerly of

Freeport Hose 5, and David Weiss,formerly of Freeport Engine 1, werememorialized and spiritually laid torest although they were not found.Mike Kiefer of Freeport EngineCompany 1 and Richard T.Muldowney, New York firefighter andactive Freeport volunteer, have yetto be laid to eternal rest. Mr.Muldowney and Mr. Watson werealso first cousins.These men are dearly missed by

their Freeport comrades, several ofwhom eagerly assisted the rescueoperations at the site of the tragedy.Bruce Newbery, ex-chief from

Freeport and retired firefighter fromFire Department of New YorkRescue 1, hustled into New York Cityas soon as he saw the first televisioncoverage of the plane crash. Drivingin a backup chief’s car with anotherFreeport ex-chief, Paul Hashagen,Freeport ex-Captain Paul Fee, cur-rently of FDNY Rescue 1, and Chris

Flatley, the group was able to seethe flaming towers while speedingthrough the emergency lane.“At the height of the tunnel,” Mr.

Newbery witnessed the effects ofTower One’s collapse. “We saw atremendous amount of smoke anddust, all white.” The groupsped on, picking up a surgeon, andformulating a plan to put out TowerTwo as they sped towards it. Thebuilding came down right in front ofthem, knocking them in all directionsand splitting up the group.It took Chief Newbery five full

hours to find his friend ChiefHashagen, who he came acrosslater with a great deal of relief. “Gladto see you” really meant something.In the meantime, the veteran fire-fighter was busy doing whatever hecould.“I expected to see a lot of people

injured, it was eerie. The people wecame across were already dead, theinjured were very few.”Mr. Newbery was able, however,

to rescue Captain Al Fuentes ofLong Beach and FDNY MarineCompany 6, who could not free him-self from rubble. Not only did theyfree Captain Fuentes by hand, therewas no ambulance to take him to ahospital.“Every ambulance we passed was

totally destroyed or overturned. Wecarried him through the financialbuildings on the west side to the fireboats,” which brought the injuredfirefighter to waiting ambulances inNew Jersey.Ex-Chief Newbery recalls the

unique environment in a mannerwhich leaves the inexperienced per-son feeling unable to really relate.

With a 100+ story building reducedto “the equivalent of seven stories ofrubble,” Mr. Newbery was shockedto have not seen “a single desk, oroffice furniture, no doors, tables,computers, pencil sharpeners any-where. No glass, just paper.”In the meantime, Chief Paul

Russer was fielding a call fromFDNY special operations, requestinga team of ten collapse-trained fire-fighters. He saw Freeport FireDepartment ex-Chief and ExecutiveDirector Ray Maguire, along withFFD ex-chief and village TrusteeDonald Mauersberger, to lead thegroup.According to Mr. Maguire, the

group cleared a large area in anarea park for urban search and res-cue equipment. The group wit-nessed World Trade Center 7’s col-lapse as they removed debris andpark equipment.The group also searched the sub-

way opposite the south tower, find-ing no victims, but a great deal ofdevastation.Freeport’s fire department also

provided a heavy duty truck with atower light to help the clean-up oper-ations on the first weekend after thetragedy. Assistant Chief Wensley,who brought the truck in, said thatwith the help of Freeport’s lights, fivedeceased firefighters were recov-ered, as were three fire trucks.Chief Paul Russer offered per-

spective on the situation: “When yousee the grapplers [cranes] on TVpicking up a ladder truck like pickingup a toy, you realize the magnitudeof this event.”Along with the gravity of the

destruction, however, came an

equally strong desire to help out.Within a week, the Freeport FireDepartment received a call from thefire department in Langford, BritishColumbia. Wanting to become a sis-ter city with Freeport, the Canadiansoffered $20,000 to go to the familiesof Freeport’s dead firefighters.This sparked the idea for the

Freeport Fire Department WTCMemorial Fund, which now hasapproximately double the funds. Themoney will go to the children of for-mer and current Freeport firefighterswho were lost on September 11.According to Assistant Chief JamesButler, “The community really cametogether big time for these guys.”

Although money has notbeen disbursed, said Chief Russer,the department hopes to give out themoney by January. The departmentalso has plans to start an annual$500 scholarship for a Freeport HighSchool student in the name of thesemen, which will begin with thisJune’s graduating class.The department is also serving as

a drop-off center for Toys For Tots,and has offered its equipment andme to serve on stand-by, or for funer-als. “With the FDNY fleet compro-mised,” said ex-Chief Maguire,“departments on Long Island havebeen providing apparatus,” unfortu-nately including engine companiesto carry coffins and ladder compa-nies to arch flags over the street.Freeport has shared the suffering

which resulted from the recent sneakattack on our soil, but clearly hasshared in the community-bindingand caretaking which are the posi-tive side effects of this terribletragedy.

Page19A


YEA

RS

LATER9.11.01: TEN YEARS LATER

“He [Mike Donovan, NYC Firefighter] was working near the World Trade Center when he saw a photographer taking pictures. He wrote his phone number onthe photographer’s arm and asked, ‘could you call my wife and tell her I’m OK. Tell her you saw me after the building collapsed.’ The photographer did so.”Mae Ronan, mother-in-law of Mike Donvan, as told to reporter Joan Delaney.

Above, the 9/11 Memorial at the Baldwin Train Station.

On September 11, 2001,America Experienced A Tragedy That

We Will Never Forget.On That Day Many Of Us Lost Loved Ones

And Although They Are Gone,They Are Not Forgotten.

Our Thoughts And PrayersContinue To Be With You.

99//1111......WWee WWiillll NNeevveerr FFoorrggeett......

Mayor Andrew Hardwick and The Board of Trustees

7702SP511CM

L&M Publications •

9.11

.01:

TEN

YEA

RS

LATE

R•Page 20A

A

•L&M

Publications•9.11.01:TENY

EAR

SLATER

9.11.01: TEN YEARS LATER

In doing research for our recent9/11 section, one of my co-workersat Merrick Life (Olimpia Santaniello)said, "You know, you should talk toLiz."Liz Kiel, being a mutual friend of

ours, is a parent I've come to knowfrom Camp Avenue, and our sons(both named James) have just start-ed Merrick Avenue Middle Schooltogether. We've talked, spent hourstogether at sports and school eventbut again here is another personthat I had no idea lost a loved one inthe events of 9/11.Liz's brother, John Florio, a fire-

fighter out of Engine Company 214in Bedford-Stuyvesant, was killedwhen the first tower fell. A resident ofOceanside, he was the father of two,Michael and Kylie, and husband ofShari. Like many he wasn't sup-posed to be on duty that day - but hehad a made a shift change.Liz, who works at Mepham High

School, was composed and proudwhen talking to me about her broth-er. Her sadness in his untimelydeath at the age of 33 is mixed witha sister's pride in his efforts and sac-rifice that day. The families remainclose and the Kiels cherish theirtime with the Florios.John, whose body was recovered

in October of that year, was laid torest on November 3, 2001, and Lizrecalled how a letter was read at hisfuneral written from his favoriteheavy metal band Metallica.

- Erin Donohue

HHeerr bbrrootthheerr,,tthhee ffiirreeffiigghhtteerr

JOHN FLORIO REMEMBERED. Pictured, from the top, JohnFlorio of Engine Co. 214, middle and bottom Kylie Florio withPresident and Mrs. Bush. Top and bottom left photos on thispage from the Town of Hempstead ceremony at Point Lookout,September 11, 2011. Bottom right photo is from the NorthMerrick memorial ceremony at the Veterans monument.

photos courtesy of the Kiel family, Bob Harrison and Erin Donohue

7738

SP

1211

JB

Mail to: L&M Publications1840 Merrick Ave. • Merrick, NY 11566

*Nassau County Resident Only - Offer Exp. 12/31/11

Buy 1 Get 1 Gift Subscription FREE

Your Local NewspaperKeeps You Current on Events

in Your Own Community.

Please send one complimentary one year subscription to:

Name___________________________________________________

Address_________________________________________________

Town________________________State____________Zip_________

Phone

o PAYMENT ENCLOSED (one year subscription)

o Merrick Life- $25 o Bellmore Life- $20

o The Leader- $17 o The Citizen- $18

Charge My o VISA o MASTERCARD

Card #________________________ Exp. Date_________

My Name________________________________________________

Address_______________________________________ __________

Town______________________State______________Zip_________

Call 378-5320 for more information

9.11 ten years later

Documents

american flight

hijackersboard flight

thehijacking of flight

united airlines flight

offamerican airlines

thelos angelesbound

years of experi

years later9