I find it hard to believe that it has been 24 years since I wrote this piece. The wound still seems so fresh in my mind. But I am reminded of the notion that the wound is the place where the light enters. And yet we are living, once again, in dark times. Still, I think that we have to tell our stories over and over again if we are going to be able to create the space for … [Read more...] about Grandpa’s Shoes
9/11
Joseph Morris:
Protecting the Port
Joseph Morris has been with the Port Authority Police Department for 29 years. Joining as a police officer, Morris worked his way up through the ranks to become the Chief of Department of the Port Authority in September.
Morris' appointment, however, is bittersweet. Thirty-seven Port Authority employees, including Chief James A. Romito, died in the collapse of the World Trade … [Read more...] about Joseph Morris:
Protecting the Port
Sean Cummins: Firefighter
Dublin man Sean Cummins narrowly escaped death on September 11 as he had swapped shifts to take his mother to the airport for her flight back to Dublin. His firehouse at the time was Squad One in Brooklyn, which lost 12 members when the World Trade Center collapsed. He arrived at Ground Zero at about 10:40 a.m. on September 11 with a group of other off-duty firefighters from … [Read more...] about Sean Cummins: Firefighter
Larry Downes:
Friends of New York
Larry Downes is the New York head of Friends of Sinn Féin. Shortly after September 11 the decision was made to reroute the funds from their annual fundraiser to the victims of the attack on America. With Gerry Adams in attendance at the Sheraton Hotel in New York, over $400,000 was raised.
"We raised the money on behalf of the New York Construction Industry Disaster Relief … [Read more...] about Larry Downes:
Friends of New York
Father Brian Jordan:
Comfort at Ground Zero
Fr. Brian Jordan is a priest at St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street, the church of the late Fire Department Chaplain Fr. Mychal Judge and the present chaplain, Fr. Christopher Keenan. On September 11th, Fr. Jordan who lost many friends including Fr. Judge, went to Ground Zero to help where he could. In the days following September 11th, Fr. Jordan spent a lot of … [Read more...] about Father Brian Jordan:
Comfort at Ground Zero