Special Memorial Service Honors Firefighters Killed on 9/11
Special Memorial Service Honors Queens Firefighters Killed On 9/11
September 08, 2006A special memorial service in Astoria Friday honored Queens firefighters who died in the 9/11 attacks. The service, held at St. Michaels Cemetery Friday pays tribute every year to the more than 70 fallen firefighters from Queens who died on 9/11. This year the service also honored Port Authority service members who perished in the attacks. "It's important that we always remember these officers,” said PAPD inspector Kenneth Honig. “We never forget the things that they did and remember that these are the same people who everyday put their lives on the line for the citizens of this region.” “It's still very difficult, you know," said 9/11 widow Thelma Stuart. "I mean some days are good, some days are great and some days are not so great. It's more difficult, I think, in being a single parent, raising my daughter Amanda and not having her father around." This year was the first time Port Authority officers had a physical memorial at the cemetery.
NY1's Nicole Johnson filed the following report on the special service. Even though it's been almost five years, the pain for family members gathered for a 9/11 memorial is fresh as if it was just yesterday. They are mothers, fathers, wives and children of firefighters and Port Authority police officers killed on 9/11. At St. Michael's cemetery in Queens, dozens turned out for this special memorial service. It's been a yearly tradition since the terrorist attacks, but this year is the first time the port authority police officers have their own physical memorial. Even canine Cyrus was also honored. Thelma Stuart's husband, Warren Stuart Jr. was one of the men honor, working as a Port Authority police officer, running in to save others when the towers collapsed. “Warren was a very humble guy, and he really wasn’t doing his job to receive accolades, he really loved what he did and he wouldn’t have had it any other way,” said Stuart. For her, time hasn't been easy. She's raising her daughter Amanda alone. “It's very difficult,” said Stuart. “But, you know, I trust in God to help me get through the difficult moments and I just take one minute at a time – not even a day at a time. One minute at a time.” That feeling is common among other family members. As the names of the fallen, read one by one, even politicians were emotional. Many took the podium to share their personal account and offer words of encouragement. The memorial didn't end without honoring Lieutenant Howard Carpluk and firefighter Michael Reilly, killed in a Bronx fire two weeks ago. For some, the memorial was a time to remember. For others, it was also a reunion. Many of these families have developed relationships. For the children, many are still too young to understand, including one-year-old Bethany, who will never meet her uncle. “I’m going to tell her that her uncle was a great person, that he would have loved her very much, and that he’s always watching over her,” said Margaly Lemagne, the sister of a fallen PAPD officer. – Nicole Johnson
September 08, 2006A special memorial service in Astoria Friday honored Queens firefighters who died in the 9/11 attacks. The service, held at St. Michaels Cemetery Friday pays tribute every year to the more than 70 fallen firefighters from Queens who died on 9/11. This year the service also honored Port Authority service members who perished in the attacks. "It's important that we always remember these officers,” said PAPD inspector Kenneth Honig. “We never forget the things that they did and remember that these are the same people who everyday put their lives on the line for the citizens of this region.” “It's still very difficult, you know," said 9/11 widow Thelma Stuart. "I mean some days are good, some days are great and some days are not so great. It's more difficult, I think, in being a single parent, raising my daughter Amanda and not having her father around." This year was the first time Port Authority officers had a physical memorial at the cemetery.
NY1's Nicole Johnson filed the following report on the special service. Even though it's been almost five years, the pain for family members gathered for a 9/11 memorial is fresh as if it was just yesterday. They are mothers, fathers, wives and children of firefighters and Port Authority police officers killed on 9/11. At St. Michael's cemetery in Queens, dozens turned out for this special memorial service. It's been a yearly tradition since the terrorist attacks, but this year is the first time the port authority police officers have their own physical memorial. Even canine Cyrus was also honored. Thelma Stuart's husband, Warren Stuart Jr. was one of the men honor, working as a Port Authority police officer, running in to save others when the towers collapsed. “Warren was a very humble guy, and he really wasn’t doing his job to receive accolades, he really loved what he did and he wouldn’t have had it any other way,” said Stuart. For her, time hasn't been easy. She's raising her daughter Amanda alone. “It's very difficult,” said Stuart. “But, you know, I trust in God to help me get through the difficult moments and I just take one minute at a time – not even a day at a time. One minute at a time.” That feeling is common among other family members. As the names of the fallen, read one by one, even politicians were emotional. Many took the podium to share their personal account and offer words of encouragement. The memorial didn't end without honoring Lieutenant Howard Carpluk and firefighter Michael Reilly, killed in a Bronx fire two weeks ago. For some, the memorial was a time to remember. For others, it was also a reunion. Many of these families have developed relationships. For the children, many are still too young to understand, including one-year-old Bethany, who will never meet her uncle. “I’m going to tell her that her uncle was a great person, that he would have loved her very much, and that he’s always watching over her,” said Margaly Lemagne, the sister of a fallen PAPD officer. – Nicole Johnson
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