6 North Shore Towers Courier n October 2016 ALWAYS REMEMBER... North Shore Towers commemorates the fifteenth anniversary of 9-11 “For all of us, September 11, 2001, changed our world…” Thus, Board Member Bob Ricken opened the 9-11 Memorial in the Towers Cinema on Sunday, September 11. This year marked the fifteenth anniversary of 9-11, and as the residents entered for the 7 p.m. start, NST Board Members and management greeted local dignitaries at the theater’s proscenium, their smiles of welcome belying the reason for the gathering, to remember the heinous attack that killed more than 3,000 Americans and forever changed the social landscape of the planet fifteen years ago. Ricken pointed out the similarities to the day with December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor Day; how people remembered where they were when the first ever attack on U.S. soil devastated the country 70+ years ago and how it, too, forever changed the American way of life. But he noted an important difference. Whereas the invasion of Pearl Harbor was directed at a military base and its personnel, the World Trade Center attack targeted innocent men, women and children. And its repercussions continue, as ground-zero first responders fall victim every day to health issues from hours of breathing in toxic fumes and dust as they helped in the recovery efforts. We still hear reports of these heroic men and women succumbing to cancer and other debilitating illnesses. Just last year, Marcy Borders, the “dust woman,” whose indelible image stumbling from the wreckage was forever captured by a photographer, died from stomach cancer. The effects had been thought of as physical. But Ricken pointed to recent studies, linking first responders to suffering from “cognitive impairment” and other brain diseases, like those which lead to dementia, further evidence of 9-11’s sustained effect and need to continue the annual day of remembrance. “Don’t let anyone tell you it’s ever time to end these tributes!” Ricken stressed. Felice Hannah, Board member and Political Action Committee (PAC) Chair was instrumental in securing Councilmember Barry Grodenchik and Assembly Member David Weprin to speak. An emotional Grodenchik noted Sto ry by Stephen Vrattos his lack of prepared speech, as the feelings of 9-11 were “still raw.” “Fifteen years seems like fifteen days,” he said. Grodenchik advised everyone, to not only remember the officers, firefighters and many other service people who lost their lives that day, but also that person who stood by a handicapped or sick or injured friend who was unable to escape and who subsequently died in doing so. Weprin quoted the start of Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” From the stupefying horror of 9-11—the seeming “worst of times”— arose an “extraordinary coming together of humanity, regardless of race and religion”—the “best of times.” Beloved Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky relayed a message of hope. He recalled the tears flowing from his eyes upon hearing of the attacks, while driving on the Cross Island Parkway. “The depth of emotion in myself was overwhelming,” he said. According to Rabbi Blesofsky, 9-11 began “an epic battle between the forces of darkness and the forces of light. What can we do; what impact can we have. More is expected of us, but what?! Every mitzvah—good deed—creates a powerful force to better the world,” he explained. Six officers from the local 105th Precinct were also in attendance, brought on stage and recognized with a standing ovation from the audience. Joining them were lieutenants Remusat and Meceli, firefighters from Engine 251, who, with several other of their colleagues, had to run off soon after the start of last year’s memorial, because a call had come in. Ricken was grateful to be able to finally thank them for their participation last year—however brief—as will as this year. Three powerful videos, produced by John Virga and Marty Ragusa of Towers Video Productions, screened at various moments during the night, beautifully displayed the resiliency and patriotism which resounds throughout the country, since the attacks. The evening ended with a poignant video of late NST resident Martin Fladell, playing taps and a restorative communal singing of “God Bless America,” led by performers resident Joan Lawrence and son Craig Russell. 1 2 3 4 Photos by Julie Weissman and Stephen Vrattos
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