Crowley Is A Leader Who Truly Leads
BY EDWARD HORN

Every year Joe Crowley leads the service to honor those who fell on 9/11. He speaks from the heart with the resolve of never forgetting every victim of the attacks.

We have experienced political bickering that has voters across the nation frustrated and seeking change. The years following the attacks of 9/11 have fractured the political divide creating acrimony and heated debates.

Yet representatives who stand for principles regardless of the political consequences have always blessed the U.S. John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage offered an inside look at politicians who took a stand and paid the price. These leaders determined that doing what was right was far more important than winning the next election.

Congressmember Joseph Crowley is such a leader. Fortunately, he will remain in office serving his constituents and the nation for years to come. Joe was impacted by the attacks of September 11 in so many ways. As a Congressmember, Joe was called upon to vote upon the military action taken against bin Laden and the Taliban. As a citizen of New York, he suffered the agony of having our city harmed beyond comprehension.

Rendition of proposed memorial ever present.

For Joe, the pain of the attacks included the loss of his cousin, FDNY Battalion Chief John Moran. When Joe speaks of his cousin, there is no question that the loss is deeply personal and

St. Michael's created and dedicated a memorial to the 76 Queens firefighters lost on 9/11. Of the 343 FDNY losses, the 76 firefighters connected to Queens represent a horrible percentage. Christopher Santora is buried at St. Michael's and his image is on the center panel of the memorial that honors the FDNY losses.

A yearly memorial service is held at St. Michael's. In attendance are the family members of the 76 Queens firefighters and the 39 Port Authority Police Officers who died at the towers. A permanent memorial was dedicated last year to the PAPD.

Every year Joe Crowley leads the service to honor those who fell on 9/11. He speaks from the heart with the resolve of never forgetting every victim of the attacks. He speaks for all and he speaks to his cousin. He earns the respect of the families and the uniformed service present. He is one of them.

St. Michael's is attempting to dedicate a memorial to the 23 NYPD officers who died at the towers. It is an arduous undertaking. To many, the years that have passed speak against doing so. To so many more, it is an obligation that demands that we never forget or abandon acknowledging the heroism and sacrifice of First Responders.

Learning of St. Michael's efforts to honor the NYPD fallen, Congressmember Crowley made a donation. St. Michael's needs the financial support of others to achieve the goal of dedicating a monument to the 9/11 NYPD Officers. The monetary contribution by the Congressmember will help achieve the goal.

To save money in the 1990s, the Congress revoked certain benefits previously available to veterans. Congressmember Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada) introduced H.R. 1273 restoring the abolished plot and marker cash allowances for use by veterans in private and religious cemeteries. This legislation would honor those veterans and their families who might prefer interment in non-government cemeteries for personal, religious or ethnic reasons.

When Congressmember Crowley was made aware of this issue, he immediately contacted Congressmember Berkley, agreeing to co-sponsor the legislation. Without co-sponsors the legislation would languish with little chance of being enacted. Crowley's involvement assures that our veterans' wishes may once again be respected.

It is rare to have a politician send a check in support of anything. Usually the request is for campaign aid. Crowley is remarkable. His priorities define him and those qualities benefit not only his constituents, but also all Americans.