9/11 Dead Honored
BY DAN MILLER

On Saturday, September 8, hundreds of Queens residents joined community leaders, elected officials, representatives of the police and firefighters of New York City, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police and the family members the fallen first responders left behind in honoring the memory of those who gave their lives while they attempted to save the lives of others at the World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Queens Gazette Publisher Tony Barsamian, as master of ceremonies, hosted the sixth 9/11 Memorial Service held at St. Michael's Cemetery, 72-02 Astoria Blvd., East Elmhurst. The memorial service paid tribute to the 76 Queens firefighters, 37 Port Authority police officers and the 23 other members of the New York City Police Department who died on 9/11.

Prayers were offered by Canon The Rev. George Brandt, pastor of St. Michael's Church (which owns and operates the cemetery that bears its name), NYPD Deputy Chief Chaplain Monsignor Robert J. Romano and the Rev. Apostolos Koufalakis, Dean of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Astoria.

Retired New York City Fire Department Deputy Chief Alexander Santora and his wife, Maureen, represented the 76 FDNY families. Their only son, Christopher Santora, at 23 years of age was the youngest FDNY firefighter to die in the 9/11 attacks. Like his mother, Maureen, Christopher Santora had been a teacher in the New York City public school system, but left teaching to become a firefighter. Christopher Santora had been a member of Engine 4, Manhattan, for only two months before he lost his life responding on 9/11. Remains found weeks after 9/11 by the Medical Examiner were identified as those of Firefighter Jose Guadalupe. After the Guadalupe family had held services and buried the remains, DNA analysis revealed the remains to be those of Christopher Santora. Santora was reinterred in a mausoleum at St. Michael's Cemetery. At that time, the Santora family conceived the idea of a memorial to Christopher and other firefighters from Queens, the first such 9/11 memorial to be dedicated at St. Michael's. Both firefighters' names are inscribed on the memorial.

In subsequent 9/11 commemoration services, memorials were dedicated to the memory of Port Authority Police Department members who gave their lives on 9/11, including Sirius, the only police service dog to die on duty at the World Trade Center. At the 2007 service a third memorial was dedicated. NYPD/Salute To Our Fallen Heroesis inscribed over a stylized police shield with City of New York over the word Police and over the date 9/11/01 and a badge number 3100; under the shield is inscribed the motto: FIDELIS AD MORTEM [Faithful to Death] and WE WILL NEVER FORGET. The names of the 23 fallen officers are inscribed next to the shield and mottoes. honoring NYPD fallen heroes was unveiled. NYPD Deputy Chief Chaplain Monsignor Robert

J. Romano said, "It's a great honor to be here today and it is a great honor to represent the men and women of the New York City Police Department. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank St. Michael's Cemetery, I'd like to thank the men and women of the NYPD, of the Port Authority and the Fire Department for being here today to honor and to remember. Most importantly I'd like to thank the families for being here. Because it is each and every one of you that gives us the strength to continue. As we come together today it is very important that we never forget. It is important that we always remember… to keep the memory of our brothers and sisters alive."

Congressmember Joseph Crowley spoke in memory and on behalf of his cousin, FDNY Battalion Chief John Moran, who also died at the World Trade Center on 9/11. Crowley led efforts to create and dedicate the memorial to New York City Police Department officers at St, Michael's Cemetery, acting as liaison with the NYPD and making a personal donation to the memorial. He thanked everyone for coming, "to help recognize the sacrifices of members of our Fire Department, our Police Department, our Port Authority and all first responders who perished that day".

Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA), who followed Crowley, said, "Thank you, each and every one of you. My colleagues have said the words that we know and we feel each and every day. On September 11, 2001 the world finally saw, but more importantly realized, what New York City Police Officers are willing and capable of doing. But we must also remember today, tomorrow and on into the future, that some of those same police officers that ran towards those buildings on September 11 would do it again." Lynch was joined by PAPD Inspector Kenneth Honig and Stephen Humensky, Queens Trustee of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, in remembering the fallen members of their respective agencies.

City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. said, "I am here today both as the councilmember representing this district and as the chairman of the [council] Public Safety Committee. Those who have gone before us and have made that sacrifice are saying to you, 'Thank you. Thank you for keeping our memories alive. For as long as you do that, the terrorists will never win'." Vallone also thanked his council colleagues who were present for attending the ceremony.

Councilmember John Liu told the audience: "I am happy for this very beautiful day. It is six years. I am happy to see so many people still coming out to what is a firmly established day at St. Michael's to remember to honor those who have kept our Queens family strong and who truly make our country the greatest nation on earth."

Assemblymember Catherine Nolan, in extending her condolences to the first responders' survivors, noted that the losses are very fresh and the memories still very poignant.

Councilmember Eric Gioia added, "Thank you, all of you, for showing your respect for all of those who gave their lives to save other lives."

The choir of St. Michael's Episcopal Church performed several hymns at different points of the ceremony. Edward Horn, St. Michael's Cemetery director of community relations, played a major role in organizing the ceremonies and helping to commission the memorials for the fallen members of the two police departments and the firefighters.
 

Pat Lynch, president of the New York City chapter of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, thanked those present for their support during and after 9/11. Assemblymember Catherine Nolan acknowledged the freshness of the memories of the 9/11 atrocity. City Councilmember Eric Gioia thanked the audience for "showing your respect for all of those who gave their lives to save other lives". As is his wont since 2002, Gazette Publisher Tony Barsamian was master of ceremonies for the 9/11 memorial services.