We Mourn: In Private and in Public

This morning, as soon as I awoke, memories of that horrific day fourteen years ago swirled through my mind. I am sure that everyone who is nineteen years or older remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001. I vividly recall being in Section 5 of Co-Op City campaigning when the planes hit. I actually recall seeing and hearing a plane flying very low and overhead a few minutes before. I still wonder if that was one of the planes commandeered by those terrorists who represented no religion or cause.Sadness did consume me as I watched the clouds dissipate out site and the sky appeared as it was on that day of infamy 14 years ago. Yes, once again there were tears. As I glanced at one of the calendars in my home I noticed that for today’s date, September 11, there is no caption indicating what occurred on 9/11/2001. That includes the calendar printed and distributed by the United States Congress.

Silvio Mazella did advise me that that the USMC calendar did caption the date memorializing 9/11/2001. I will be urging our members of Congress to revise the calendar for 2016 and that September 11 be recognized as 9/11 Memorial Day. I will also urge those who produce calendars to do the same.

I attended what was a heartfelt 9/11 memorial on the grounds of Jacobi Medical Center, which has taken place every year since that day fourteen years ago. Wreaths were laid memorializing those fallen on that fateful day. and, as it has done in the past, members of the Community Advisory Board took turns readings stanzas from the poem:

ONE

#1. As the ash rained down,
We became one color.

#2. As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building,
We became one class,

#3. As we lit candles of waiting and hope,
We became one generation,

#4. As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno,
We became one gender,

#5. As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength,
We became one faith,

#6. As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement,
We spoke one language,

#7. As we gave our blood in lines a mile long,
We became one body,

#8. As we mourned together the great loss,
we became one soul,

#9.As we speak with pride of the sacrifice of our heroes,
We become one people.

Today and every day we have to remember those who perished, those who were injured and the first responders many of whom died and many who are still ill from the attacks.

9/11 Sept. 201

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A beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace was sung byJacobi Medical Center staff members Elizabether Soto-Muniz and Julie Vargas.

9/11 Memorial September, 2015

It was great to see Joe Orlando, former Executive Director of NBHN. 9/11/2001 occurred during his tenure Executive Director. The first memorial was led my him on the Friday after the attack by the terrorists.