A Purpose Without End

The First Responders Monument at St. Michael's Cemetery, East Elmhurst, the latest addition to the section of the cemetery honoring and remembering 9/11 victims, commemorates First Responders from New York City Police and Fire Departments and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department who died on duty in events other than the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Many people have questioned when enough time has passed to end remembrance. There are losses of all types that can never be shed, discarded, forgotten or laid to rest. For those impacted by such a loss the pain only lessens, renewed on anniversaries or caught by a memory.

All peoples recall major events in their nation's history. When the occurrence was good, celebrations abound. When it was a tragedy, somber moments are played out, emphasizing the enormity of the loss. Both lay the foundation for yearly observances.

The September 11 attacks have become part of the American story. The outrage at the slaughter and assault upon our way of life has become a benchmark on our present and future course. Our political debates center upon the choices confronted in responding to the attacks and preventing new ones.

At the start of the 9/11 memorial ceremonies Color Guard ceremonial units from the New York City Police and Fire Departments lined up in front of the cemetery administration building to present the colors. To those working in the Twin Towers it was a beautiful sun filled day of promise. They were ordinary people performing the usual tasks of most Americans. Not one of them voted to be a victim. Yet each was targeted by a corrupted religious interpretation that rendered each a hated and legitimate enemy. Thousands died as a consequence in New York while planes took innocent lives in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Those who could ran from the infernos.

Adhering to their calling, responding to their nature, honoring their oaths thousands of First Responders ran to the fires. Entering the holocausts, they evacuated trapped and injured civilians while they climbed ever higher towards the flames. Fulfilling their promise to serve and protect, they went where sanity demanded retreat, each Responder knowing that every step was backed up by a brother or sister of their service.

New York City Firefighters lined up at 9/11 commemorative ceremonies at St. Michael's Cemetery, East Elmhurst on September 6 to honor their fallen comrades. The numbers are heartrending. Of the nearly 3,000 losses at the World Trade Center 343 Firefighters of the FDNY died, 23 police officers of the Port Authority and 37 men and women of the New York Police Department. More than ten percent of the casualties were First Responders who saved countless others on their ascendency to death.

Friends of St. Michael's, retired Assistant FDNY Chief Alexander and Maureen Santora lost FDNY Firefighter Christopher Santora, the youngest of the firefighters at age 23. Their suffering was made all the more poignant when their son's remains were misidentified and buried as someone else. When the error was realized, both families were once again traumatized.

Receiving Christopher, St. Michael's offered to memorialize him. The Santoras adamantly refused, insisting that every Firefighter demanded recognition. We undertook to honor the task. Our first monument, for which the ICCFA recognized St. Michael's with its 2005 KIP Award, honored the 76 Queens Firefighters of 9/11. On subsequent anniversaries of the attacks, St. Michael's dedicated a monument to the officers of the PAPD and NYPD who were lost at the Twin Towers.

The public was invited to attend and participate in the 2008 memorial service and dedication of the First Responders Monument at St. Michael's Cemetery on September 6. Patrol Borough Queens North Commanding Officer Assistant Chief Diana L. Pizzuti (c.) and Captain B. Derry posed at the 9/11 memorial services at St. Michael's Cemetery, East Elmhurst, with members of the Police Department Explorers, young people who have expressed an interest in law enforcement and who participate in 9/11 commemorations and National Night Out Against Crime events, as well as other police activities that foster community relations. The yearly Memorial Service was constantly attended by many of the families, hundreds of the rank and file and a multitude of elected and community leaders. The general public's participation has lessened over the years.

Concerned by those who demanded an end to the reminders of the attacks and those who insist that the families should closet their grief, the Santora's sought the means to ensure that what we have created is never forgotten. Al and Maureen approached me to dedicate a First Responders monument that yearly would bear witness to a line of duty death sustained by a member of the PAPD, FDNY and NYPD. Arbitrarily, 1995 was chosen. It was felt that prior to then, the families would be hard to locate. Sadly, 87 First Responders were identified as having being lost in the line of duty. The PAPD suffered eight lost prior to the September 11 attacks. Due to their ardent and consistent support, they were included.

Allow me to state that a task such as creating a First Responders monument involving three distinct Departments is monumental. Fortunately, from creating and dedicating the prior monuments my education on to whom I should reach out was earned and mandatory to achieve the goal. Until I began these projects I had no contact with any of the Departments, nor did I possess a guide whom I could speak with.

The creation and dedication of the First Responders monument required five months of constant work and effort that involved hundreds of individuals from the Departments, related organizations and associations, politicians and interested parties. The address book of contacts and necessary people has page upon page. One person would lead to another, one group to another, one official to many others, some of whom had better things on their minds.

The PAPD has been the friendliest, easiest group of people I have ever worked with. One or two phone calls would garner their interest, support, endeavor, commitment and financial aid. The FDNY has a Family Assistance Unit whose sole purpose is to respond to the needs of FDNY families. Their aid assured a level of support ensuring that the families would have the information needed to participate. The FDNY families also are supported by the UFA.

The NYPD is a Chinese puzzle of various groups with different agendas and points of view. The political world that governs the NYPD is a confused conflicting box within a box fighting conundrums of complexity and intrigue, politics, allegiances and bickering that would please a historian attempting to spend a lifetime on a single subject.

Due to Gus Antonopoulos, funeral home owner and operator of Joseph Farenga & Sons, a local icon, known and trusted by all, who has yearly aided everything St. Michael's has done in reaching the citizens of our local community and the city of New York, I became friendly with Peter Vallone Sr., first and now former Speaker of the New York City Council. I was fortunate in having Peter's support. When I hit a wall I would call upon Peter Vallone. Peter's ability to reach behind closed doors made what was to me impossible a reality.

The families had expressed a wish to personalize the Memorial Service. Peter was able to respond by inviting film star Tony LoBianco to read from the submissions sent to Memory Medallion by the families. Nothing more impacted those in attendance than hearing the stories written by the families describing their loved ones.

On Saturday, September 6, New York was overcast and threatened by Hurricane Hanna. Our plans for an outdoor service were threatened. A window of three hours opened, just when the service was scheduled to begin. Unfortunately the attendance was limited by the weather. Still, hundreds of the rank and file of the three Departments and more than 100 of the public were joined by a large turnout of elected officials to honor the fallen.

Tony Barsamian, owner and publisher of the Queens Gazette, introduced the service by calling all to attention. Tony has been a great aid and supporter of the Memorial Services held by St. Michael's. Without his leadership the service would have been far less than the success it has been over the years.

The speakers each spoke of the courage of the First Responders lost at the Towers and throughout the years. The Congressional representatives, Carolyn Maloney and Joseph Crowley stated that every year they will attend the service at St. Michael's, as it is a personal and meaningful ceremony, intimately connecting them to the families and those who continue to serve. Assemblymember Michael Gianaris and City Councilmembers Peter Vallone Jr. and John Liu joined the rest of the speakers in expressing their gratitude to the fallen heroes.

At the base of the First Responders monument is inscribed, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." I am proud to have the city of New York and, more important, the city's First Responders, call St. Michael's their place of honor!

The event would not have been possible without the foresight and dedication of Canon the Rev. George W. Brandt Jr., rector of St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Manhattan and the staff of St. Michael's Cemetery, East Elmhurst under the direction of Ed Horn.