On 9/11, memories, tears, defi ant words
BY LINCOLN ANDERSON
On another mild, blue-sky day,
just as that fateful morning 18
years ago, the anniversary of
the 9/11 terrorist attack was marked in
a solemn ceremony at the World Trade
Center.
There were moments of silence and
the tolling of bells to commemorate
the times that the fi rst jet and then the
second slammed into the Twin Towers,
and again for when each enormous
building bell.
More than 2,600 people — including
343 fi refi ghters — were killed in the
W.T.C. and surrounding area. Including
the third hijacked plan that crashed
into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.,
and the fourth that was downed, after
passengers fought back, in Shanksville,
Pennsylvania, a total of 3,000 people
perished.
Following the annual tradition, at the
memorial event, family members read
the names of the victims in bunches.
But a few deviated from the script this
year to offer personal remarks.
One of them, Nicholas Haros, Jr.,
whose mother died in the attack, called
out freshman Congressmember Ilhan
Omar for describing the attacks as
“some people did something.”
He sported a black T-shirt with
“SOME PEOPLE DID SOMETHING?”
written on it in large white
italic letters.
“Today I am here to respond to you
exactly who did what to whom,” he said,
addressing his remarks to Omar, who,
along with Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez,
is a member of “The Squad.”
“Madam, objectively speaking, we
Flowers were left at the 9/11 memorial at the World Trade Center for Robert Clinton Kennedy, 55. A senior
vice president at Marsh & McClennan, he was working on the 100th floor of the North Tower when the first
plane hit on Sept. 11, 2001.
know who and what was done,” he
said. “There is no uncertainty about
that. … On that day, 19 Islamic terrorist
members of al Qaeda killed over
3,000 people and caused billions of
dollars of economic damage.”
The New York Post reported that it
wasn’t the fi rst time Haros has used the
ceremony to make a statement. Last
year, he blasted elected offi cials for using
the 9/11 terror victims as “props for
your political theater.”
Bleecker St. resident Charles Wolf,
who lost his wife in the W.T.C. attack,
Firefighters who lost their lives responding to the World Trade Center
disaster — 343 in all — are listed in a separate section of the memorial.
appeared on “Fox & Friends First” in
the morning to talk about 9/11 and his
thoughts about today’s political situation.
Wolf was part of the former Family
Advisory Council that nudged along the
rebuilding process and gave constant
input to ensure things the families felt
were important were included in the
plans. He said he saw George Pataki on
Wednesday and the former governor
gave him a big hug, which Wolf — a
“socially liberal Republican” who likes
Pataki personally — really enjoyed.
Wolf also saw Michael Arad, who
PHOTO BY MILO HESS
PHOTO BY MILO HESS
designed the 9/11 memorial, with its
twin pools, and was overcome with
emotion.
“I spoke with Michael Arad and I
was crying,” he said. “I was really, really
crying. He’s a good man.”
The Village activist said that, over
these past two weeks, a lot of emotions
have come up related to 9/11 and his
wife’s loss. This anniversary was no
easier for him than the rest.
“It’s a good day,” he said, “but it’s a
hard day.”
PHOTO BY MILO HESS
The Tribute in Light once again shone up to the night sky on Sept. 10.
Schneps Media TVG September 12, 2019 3