Dec 2011
Five thousand Pounds of steel,
rising from the ground,
in a rusted, twisted state
at the center of our town.
The names of us who died
are inscribed around the base.
Our names are spoken yearly
and have been given pride of place.
Yet please don’t call us victims-
People taken unawares-
Recall us rather heroes
for we chose to climb those stairs.
We were fire and policemen
first responders, one and all,
In the war waged against terror
we were just the first to fall.
rising from the ground,
in a rusted, twisted state
at the center of our town.
The names of us who died
are inscribed around the base.
Our names are spoken yearly
and have been given pride of place.
Yet please don’t call us victims-
People taken unawares-
Recall us rather heroes
for we chose to climb those stairs.
We were fire and policemen
first responders, one and all,
In the war waged against terror
we were just the first to fall.
On 10/01/2011 The village of Floral Park dedicated its 9-11 memorial. The memorial has a granite base inscribed with the name of the 11 villagers who died in the attack. Rising from the center of the memorial is a 5,000 pound twisted steel girder salvaged from the ruins of the North Tower. I have taken the point of view of one of the dead first responders. I saw the memorial for the first time today and was moved to write this short tribute.
