Rememberance

About a week after 9-11, the University had a Memorial Service in Alumni Hall. The place was packed. At the end of the service, music was played and the names of each SJU Alumni that died that day was read aloud. Each year after that the University published a Memorial On their web site LISTING all the names. I don’t think they continued that tradition. I’m not sure if there is a Memorial Plaque on campus listing the names of the fallen like most other colleges.

There is an interesting plaque hidden and never discussed on Memorial Day of the supposed lone SJU student who enlisted in WWll and died. That plaque is located as you walk in the door to University Public Safety on the right side wall. I don’t recall the service persons name right now. I used to always post a picture of the plaque and a short bio on social media when I was there on Memorial Day.
 
Alumni Hall said:
Did SJU post a remembrance of the Alumni that lost their lives that day? I saw many posts on social media from other Universities remembering their lost but I did not see one today from SJU? Did I miss it?
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I didn't see one but one we did lose was Christopher Mozzillo Engine 55. Started off at Maritime and transferred over to SJU to finish his degree. Followed in his Dad's footsteps of becoming a fireman. He was supposed to be golfing with me on Sept 10 out in LI but couldn't get the morning off of Sept 11. He was new and couldn't switch tours. Life is a much worse place without him. My son Christopher, named after him, just started SJU. I hope he becomes a tenth of the man Chris was.
 
There is not a single incident reported of a cop or fireman who refused to enter the building. Firemen routinely enter buildings with grave danger. Fire science and the work behind the scenes attempts to minimize risk.

I did some work with the FDNY in the early 80s, helping candidates prepare for the lieutenant's exam using software. I learned that the NYFD inspects and charts every single nyc building to know what flammable and toxic chemicals may be stored. But I digress.

I have a good friend who was in the army reserves for over 30 years. He wore the cloak of a patriot, and would brag about the benefits, the pension etc. However when the Iraq war broke out he was about to be called for active duty. He was given a choice - 6 mos in Iraq or 2 years in 🇩🇪 Germany. He opted for the 2 years. Considering what he signed up for, I thought less of him after all his bullshit about serve and protect.

Our cops and fireman did none of that. Those who survived and later developed illnesses from toxins on ground zero have not bitched and complained. They think of themselves as much luckier than their fallen comrades.

God bless them all. Stand tall against all those who would harm us.
 
First cousins Eddie Geraghty (SJU) First Battalion Chief and head of instruction at the Fire Academy died racing up the first towner to fall; saved many civilian lives before and on September 11th, all three of his sons are NYC Firemen. His brother Stevie (also multiple recuses before 09/11--both worked out of Rescue 1 in Manhattan) worked the pile trying to find some remains (never found) for weeks and weeks afterward, and died of a brain tumor brought on by the WTC toxins. Their brother-in-law also a Battalion Chief died on 9/11 also, my cousin through marriage. Valley Stream boys, though Eddie lived and was prominent in Rockville Center when he died. Van Essen at Eddie's Funeral Mass at the Cathedral in Rockville Center, remarked that some day Eddie might have been Head of the Department or even, his job, Commissioner.


My godfather, their dad and my uncle was a highly decorated FDNY, as well as another uncle his brother, and also finally my dad who was stationed in the (then) busiest house in the City in Brownsville, Bklyn.

All told me the same thing, Eddie died doing exactly what he was taught to do, save lives and honor the job.

Tragic and so sad. RIP Eddie, Stevie and Tommy.
 
St. Joseph’s church in Garden City conducted twenty three funerals for those lost, Most were young men and young women in their thirties leaving a spouse and two or three children. Many lived in Manhattan and had grown up in Garden City.
The overwhelming sadness lasted for months throughout the village. You can only pray that the families were able to move on with their lives.
 
GardenCity62 said:
St. Joseph’s church in Garden City conducted twenty three funerals for those lost, Most were young men and young women in their thirties leaving a spouse and two or three children. Many lived in Manhattan and had grown up in Garden City.
The overwhelming sadness lasted for months throughout the village. You can only pray that the families were able to move on with their lives.
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My Rockaway friends told me there were 93 funerals between the Cross Bay Bridge and Breezy Point after 9/11, including kids of people with whom I grew up. I was living in Rye at the time but I think that there was a crash of a Dominican Republic bound plane about a block from St. Francis de Sales church and school right after 9/11 when the community was already in shock.
 
SJU85 said:
Five others on the ground died as well.
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I was at 4O Broad Street , close to the NY Stock Exchange when the planes hit at 8:46.
I was with a colleague in my office and we thought a Building next door had collapsed .
We soon learned it wasn’t that at all and the next 3 hours in the Financial District were chaos .
We were about to evacuate our Building when the first Tower fell and the lobby was filled with smoke . Outside was a black as midnight
We were told to stay put until the smoke and debris cleared and then , when it did, they said again to evacuate .
I had about 6 Women workers with me and we started out down Broad Street heading to the FDR drive to walk out of Downtown .
We got a 1/2 block and the 2nd Tower fell and the smoke and debris started again . We ducked into another building on Broad Street and took refuge there for about a hour .
Until Guiliani issued the Order to evacuate Downtown below Chambers Street.

It was then we saw all the debris , dust , paper lying all over the Streets in lower Manhattan . Cars were abandoned and the debris was about Ankle deep on the curbs .
As soon as we got above Chambers , the Sky was perfectly blue and it was a nice early fall day .
The Smoke from the Towers were still visible and we all knew a awful tragedy had occurred .
I lost a fair amount of friends at Aon and Marsh that day and remember them every year as they call their names from the Roll call .
 
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