9-11
NST Remembers
BY STEPHEN VRATTOS
Photos by Stephen Vrattos
The North Shore Towers
community gathered in the
cinema Monday evening,
September 11, to remember the
horrific events of 9-11 and honor
the heroic efforts of those who gave
their lives that day sixteen years
ago. Once again, Board Member
and Chair of the Special Projects
Committee, which organized the
memorial, Bob Ricken presided.
Ricken admitted to still being
haunted by the stories and images
from the attack, a feeling shared by
many in the audience. So, too, is
shared the resolve to remember the
event to ensure future generations
never forget the evil, which tried to
destroy the freedoms we cherish as
Americans, and the men and women
who gave their lives to oppose it.
Ricken recalled the recent death
of another firefighter from health
issues suffered by working at
Ground Zero after the collapse of
the World Trade Center. This young
man had lost his father, also a firefighter,
sixteen years earlier during
the attack. He spoke of the final
cell phone conversations between
people trapped in the upper floors
of the towers above the airplane
strikes and their loved ones on
the ground, all of which inevitably
ended with “I love you.” And he
showed vivid photos of the destruction
and horror from that day.
Rabbi Yossi Blesofsky, affectionately
known as “Rabbi Bless,” took
to the podium to remind the audience
of the frailty of life, drawing a
parallel between those affected by
the events of 9-11 and Floridians,
suffering from the devastation of
Hurricane Irma. “One day, your
life is perfect; the sun is shining;
your relaxing in the yard with family
and friends, awash in love and happiness.
The next, you life is swept
away, whether by a hurricane or
other natural disaster or terrorism.
Our job is not to understand the
infinite ways of our spiritual being.
Our job is to offer love and support,
Heroes take the stage; (l. to r.) NST General Manager Glen Kotowski, Security Director Chris Stahly,
firefighter Tom Lyons and Police officer Todd Heyman, introduced by Bob Ricken
resolve and strength and fight back
against evil.”
The introduction of our local
heroes ensued with residents Tom
Lyons and Todd Hyman taking to
the stage, representing firefighters
and police responders, respectively.
Lyons, who suffers respiratory problems
related to his work at Ground
Zero after the attack, has attended
the funeral of every victim of 9-ll,
including the steel cutters, who cut
down the steel beams for removal
from the pile. Joining them were
North Shore Towers’s own heroes
of 9-11, General Manager Glen
Kotowski and Security Director
Chris Stahly. Unable to make it this
year among our community’s heroes
were General Superintendent Steve
Cairo and Assistant to the General
Manager Bruce Vogel. Ricken noted
that as long as these community
heroes have worked at NST, never
once has he heard them speak of
their incredible acts during and
after the 9-11 attack.
New York State Comptroller
Thomas DiNapoli confessed at
being somewhat intimidated to follow
such august individuals, images
and profound stories and thoughts.
Ricken has known DiNapoli for
half a century, having served as
his 8th grade teacher. “He almost
suspended me once,” he revealed
with a laugh.
The Comptroller makes it a point
to always attend the reading of the
names at Ground Zero every year.
“When you see the families and
friends of lost loved ones in person,
you are struck with the realization
that September 11 is far more
than an annual commemoration
for them, but something they live
with every day. We must continue
to remember and acknowledge 9-11
for THEM.”
DiNapoli further noted the overwhelming
good that arose from the
attack. “Hate did not discriminate,
nor did the love, support and resiliency
that resulted. It’s all the more
important to remember that during
these divisive times. Honor the victims,
their families and friends by
recapturing that spirit of unity to
be there for one another.”
Despite running in the NYC
Council primary the morning after,
Councilmember Barry Grodenchik
forewent the usual 11th hour
voter push to attend NST’s 9-11
Memorial. “I’m going to get into
trouble for saying this, but North
Shore Towers is one of the greatest
communities of New York City.”
Grodenchik recalled his mother’s
sustained anger over Pearl Harbor
throughout her life and was surprised
to discover her feelings were
not the result of having specifically
lost a family member or loved one
during the attack. “I can never
forgive what the Nazis did to
our boys,” she said in explanation,
signifying her anger as an American
reacting to an onslaught on the
country, not merely an individual
victimized by the loss of someone.
The Councilmember cited a line
from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg
Address “The world will little note,
nor long remember what we say
here, but it can never forget what
they did here” and pointed out that
“as we remember, we heal a little bit
more and come together a little bit
more as a community.”
Assemblyman Ed Braunstein
spoke at NST’s inaugural 9-11
Memorial several years ago. He
now has 2-year-old and 8-monthold
sons, which never had to go
through the horror of that day firsthand.
Still, Braunstein acknowledged
the importance of his teaching
them about both the evil behind
the attacks and the good, which
resulted from it; the first responders
selflessness and sacrifice; New
Yorkers helping each other; and
the entire country’s support of New
York City.
The powerful program ended
with two films of inspiration,
the first showing a time lapse
sequence of the building of the
Freedom Tower at Ground Zero,
the second of uplifting images
from the day, back by singer Lee
Greenwood’s “God Bless the
USA;” a video of former resident
trumpeter Martin Fladell playing
“Taps;” and a rousing rendition
of “God Bless America,” with
had the audience on their feet
and joining in, lead by resident
entertainer Russell Craig.
Guest speakers Councilman
Barry Grodenchik and State
Comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli
October 2017 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 3