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9 September 2016—
It was Friday 9 September, 2 days before 11 September. There were a lof of people who were showing or trying to touch their friend’s or loved one’s names on the New York City Police Memorial Wall in Battery Park City.
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Police Officer Chris Sasso was one of them who was showing his friend’s name on the wall to another police officer. It read Sgt. Michael McHugh July 3, 2012.
“Who was he?” I asked.
“My friend Sgt. McHugh. We had worked, spent hours together at Ground Zero. He died on July 3, 2012 of cancer. That’s why it reads July 3, 2012 on the wall, ” answered PO Sasso.
The NYPD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums led a memorial procession in honor of all those killed during the September 11th attacks and the months and years after of 9/11-related cancer.
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Police Commissioner William Bratton, soon-to-be ex-Police Commissioner, posed with members of the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums before marching.
The procession started from Cedar St. on Broadway, marched through Lower Manhattan and finished at the New York City Police Memorial in Battery Park City.
Many police bands from around the United States and Canada joined the procession.
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Mayor Bill de Blasio thanked every one who marched, and continued: ” September 11th, 2001 touched us all, every single one of us – deeply. We should never forget it was not only a tragedy for our city and our nation; it was an especially painful day for law enforcement – the deadliest day in the history of United States law enforcement. The NYPD Memorial records the names of 23 brave officers who lost their lives that day. That also includes the names of 99 others who perished from their service in the rescue and recovery. . And we know – and we say this with very hearts – that we will soon add more.”
“So on behalf of 8.5 million New Yorkers, I want to offer my deepest thanks and sincere condolences to the fallen, to their families, and to the greatest police department on this Earth.
Thank you and God bless you all.”
Commissioner William Bratton came to the microphone: “There is something special about those who serve and risk their lives – firefighters monitor flames – soldiers, cops ride to the sound of the guns, as the saying goes. While they do not court danger, they do not shy away from it either. We saw that 15 years ago over, and over, and over again. We saw that when firefighters and police ran into the danger, when they ran into those two towers.”
“To you family members who are here whose loss is rubbed raw at this time each year, you must know your loved ones felt that. It’s not a need for adventure, or excitement, or danger. It’s not recklessness. It’s the desire to help, the desire to serve. It’s the belief that if we don’t step up to make things better, then who will?”
“We remember those who give their lives – the 23 who died that day, the five times as many who have died since, and those who are still dying.”
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And he finished his words with a brief passage from a letter written at the beginning of the Civil War, the night of the Battle of the First Bull Run. “A letter that was written by a Union soldier. And I address these comments from that letter – a letter to his dear wife, Sarah – to the families who are here today. From the heart, he wrote this letter to his wife going into battle the next day, not knowing if he would live through the day, and he did not.”
“And these are his words: My dearest Sarah, forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears, every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortunes of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot, I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more. But, O Sarah, if the dead can come back to this earth, and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you in the garish day, and the darkest nights, amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours always, always, and, if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek – and as the soft breeze comes in off the Hudson – it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temples, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah, do not mourn me dear; think I am gone, and wait for me, for we shall meet again.”
It was very touching.
Four memorial wreaths stood at the New York City Police Memorial.
The procession marked the beginning of a weekend of events commemorating the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
Photos: © h. nazan ışık /NKENdiKEN , All rights reserved
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