A few weeks ago this country, as well as the world, commemorated the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States.
The date of September 11th is one that will be etched on the minds of all Americans, young and old.
As that fateful day unfolded the events were so surreal that even today they are hard for many to accept.
Yet this is only so until you realize that the United States was not only under attack, but lives, property, and our way of life were under siege.
During the following months as the life stories of different victims were reported, a flood of emotions encompassed me.
First there was Salman Hamdani, a 23-year-old Pakistan born Muslim. Mr. Hamdani was a New York City Police Cadet and on his way to work at another job when he witnessed the smoke from the crash.
Thusly, he rushed downtown to provide medical assistance. This hero’s remains were found a month later in the rubble with his Emergency Medical Technician medical bag and his police identification.
This young man’s story always touches me because I was also a New York City police cadet and I remember the enthusiasm and aspirations that I had as I started my career.
The second story that impacted me was when the remains of New York City Police Officer John Perry were recovered on December, three months after the World Trade Center’s collapse.
Officer Perry had completed his law degree while working as a police officer and he was filing his retirement papers at Police Headquarters when the first airplane struck the Twin Towers.
Without hesitation Officer Perry rushed the short distance to Ground Zero to assist, thus proving that once a police officer, always a police officer.
To this day, when I think of this hero’s story, I break out crying.
Perhaps it is because I can identify a little bit with Officer Perry as I too went to school during work as a police officer to complete my bachelor’s degree.
Upon graduation, I also went to Police Headquarters to file my retirement papers as I accepted a transfer into the Nassau County Police Department.
Nevertheless, as I was blessed enough to continue the next phase of my career, Officer Perry was killed before he even started his.
While terrorist interrupted his aspirations that day, Officer Perry was still able to fulfill his true calling of assisting his fellow men when they were in need.
The final story that emotionally overwhelms me many times is about the Chaplain of the New York City Fire Department.
The Franciscan Catholic Priest, Father Mychal Judge, entered into one of the World Trade Center buildings after both airplanes had crashed into them to give spiritual guidance to and to pray for the rescuers.
As one of the towers collapsed, Father Mychal was struck in the head by the resulting debris and was killed.
His body was removed from the scene and the medical examiner designated him as Victim 0001 of the attacks.
I don’t know who it was that stated the following, but “as the first official casualty of that day, in death, Father Mychal was able to greet and comfort the nearly 3,000 victims of 9/11.”
All three of these heroic men had something in common.
While most people instinctively run away from danger, these three voluntarily entered Ground Zero to aid their fellow men.
I offer prayers for all the first responders who selflessly gave of themselves that day and to those that continue to suffer medical complications as a result of their actions.
I also want to thank Jesus Christ for protecting me during my police career.
Peter Zayas, Grand Knight of Corpus Christi Council Number 2502 of the Knights of Columbus
