paintings of their loved ones.
Philadelphia Police Offi cer Jonny Castro is the artist behind the portrait
series “23 Remembered” honoring 23 NYPD members killed on Sept. 11,
2001. Photo Gabriele Holtermann Photo Gabriele Holtermann
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
Honoring 23 members of
the NYPD who died in the
Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks,
the NYC Police Benevolent Association
(PBA) marked the
20th anniversary of the day
of infamy with the unveiling
of a new memorial wall at
the union’s headquarters in
Lower Manhattan on Sept. 7.
The portrait series, titled
“23 Remembered,” was commissioned
by Brothers Before
Others and painted by Philadelphia
Police Offi cer Jonny
Castro, a forensic artist who
paints portraits of fallen police
offi cers and military
members killed in the line of
duty. A plaque on the memorial
wall also pays tribute to
the hundreds of police offi cers
who have died of 9/11- related
illnesses.
Addressing the families
of the fallen NYPD members
who attended the unveiling,
PBA President Patrick Lynch
opined that some have become
complacent and say it is time
to move on, but that he was
“from the school, on Sept.
11, the world should stop, all
should remember, all should
cry because our city, our heroes,
our country, was attacked.”
“Saying get past it, we
can’t,” Lynch said. “And we
shouldn’t.”
Lynch vowed that it was
their job to make sure that
the legacy of the NYPD offi
cers who died on 9/11, and
those who are succumbing to
9/11-related illnesses, live on
for generations to come.
“It’s our job to keep telling
those stories,” Lynch said. “I
believe it’s our moral obligation.”
NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita
Holmes said that she had
seen a lot throughout her 34-
year career with the NYPD,
“but our fallen heroes paid
the ultimate sacrifi ce during
9/11.”
“These brave men and
women exhibited commitment
and passion, and most
importantly selfl essness, just
like the NYPD offi cers do every
day,” Holmes said while
echoing Lynch’s sentiment “to
never forget.”
The families of the fallen
NYPD offi cers were visibly
moved when they saw the
9/11 - 20 YEARS L 38 ATER, SEPT. 9-16, 2021 BTR
Some lovingly touched the
portraits, while others broke
out in tears at the sight of their
departed.
Janet Kloepfer, the mother
of NYPD P.O. Ronald Kloepfer,
said the portrait of her son
was breathtaking.
“A little full in the cheeks,
but whatever it is, it’s beautiful
to me,” Mrs. Kloepfer said.
Offi cer Kloepfer was one
of seven children, and Mrs.
Kloepfer shared that he was
very handsome, not just “because
he is mine, but he was a
very nice looking boy.”
She called him her go-to
son and that he was always
there to help.
“He gave his life for all
of us. And I’m sure he saved
many people,” Mrs. Kloepfer
added.
She also had a message for
everyone as the 20th anniversary
is nearing: “Forget your
anger with each other, and
join and be friends. A handshake,
or good morning or
good deed, or a cup of coffee.
That’s what the world should
be doing instead of fi ghting
and killing and stabbing and
everything else.”
For fi ve years, Castro, a
forensic composite artist, decided
to use his skills to paint
portraits of fallen police offi
cers. He has done over 1000
paintings for free, and it took
him about four months to
paint the 23 images of New
York City’s fallen heroes.
“I’m so glad that I was able
to be a part of this. I’m honored,”
Castro said. “This is a
privilege for me to be here.”
He said it was the most
emotional unveiling he had
done: “There were a lot of
tears, a lot of smiles.”
’23 Remembered’: Memorial honors
NYPD offi cers killed in 9/11 attacks