Never Forgotten: FDNY FF Michael Cammarata

Five days from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Three hundred forty three members of the FDNY died on September 11, 2001, saving innocents at the World Trade Center.  The youngest of the 343 was Probationary Firefighter Michael Cammarata, just twenty-two. He was stationed at Engine 28/Ladder 11, on the lower East Side of Manhattan. On September 11, 2001, he was in the ninth week of his fourteen-week probationary assignment. He and his brother, Joe, older than Michael by fifteen months, had taken the FDNY test in the Summer of 1999. Michael attained a perfect score. Joe answered one question incorrectly. 

Before heading to the World Trade Center with Ladder 11 on that terrible Tuesday morning, Michael called home and left a message on his father's voice mail. "I am going to the World Trade Center. A plane just hit it. Just tell everyone I am all right."

In 1991, Michael was a star on the Staten Island, New York Little League team that played its way to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. In 2006, Michael's No. 11 became the first number ever retired in Williamsport. Twenty years later, it remains the only retired number. 

His body was never recovered. However, in the days after September 11, while his family was searching the house for something of Michael's to provide to the FDNY with his DNA as it assembled its forensic database, his mom came upon a tri-folded piece of computer paper on his nightstand that Michael had labeled "If anything was ever to happen to me", on which he had written a list of four items: (1) Take care of Jenna (his girlfriend); (2) Don't mourn as this is the career I chose; (3) Make my spirit live on; and (4) Remember I love you all and will be waiting for you upstairs.  He signed it, "Michael Cammarata Shield #1138".   

Forever twenty-two. Forever loved. Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: Lauren Grandcolas

Six days from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001. A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Lauren Grandcolas, eleven days after turning thirty-eight, woke up on the East Coast on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, with just one goal in mind:  Getting home.  She lived in San Rafael, California with her husband, Jack.  Born in Bloomington, Indiana, this Hoosier was a Longhorn.  She earned her degree from the University of Texas-Austin. It was there where she and Jack first met. She was three months pregnant with the couple's first child. She had recently left her position at Good Housekeeping magazine so she could focus her energy on writing a book intended to inspire women to follow their dreams.  

She had been in New Jersey for her grandmother's funeral.  On what proved to be the final morning of her life, she arrived at Newark Airport earlier than expected. So early in fact that instead of waiting around for the flight she had been scheduled to take, she took a seat on United's 8:00 am flight from Newark to San Francisco. She called Jack, who was still asleep in California (where it was not yet 5:00 am), and left a message for him on their answering machine, letting him know she would be home earlier than expected. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, the 8:00 am United Airlines flight from Newark to San Francisco was United Flight 93.  

At 9:39:21 am, after Flight 93 had been hijacked, Lauren Grandcolas demonstrated the grace under pressure that those who she loved and who loved her most of all said had been a hallmark of her life.  She called Jack, leaving another message on their answering machine, "Jack, pick up sweetie, can you hear me? Okay. I just want to tell you, there's a little problem with the plane. I'm fine. I'm totally fine. I just want to tell you how much I love you."

Although Lauren Grandcolas died before she could complete her book, her sisters did. They published You Can Do It: The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls. 

Forever thirty-eight. Forever loved. Forever remembered.

-AK

Never Forgotten: Betty Ong

One week from now marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001.  A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning.  It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day.  It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years.  It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Betty Ong, forty-five, worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines for fourteen years. She was based at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts.  On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, she was working American Airlines Flight 11, which was bound for Los Angeles, California, and which of course never came anywhere close to reaching its destination. 

Betty Ong is considered by many as the first hero of September 11. Rightly so.  Flight 11 was hijacked shortly after takeoff.  Betty Ong was the person on-board who first reported the hijacking to someone on the ground.  She telephoned American Airlines reservations agents in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and alerted them what had happened and what was happening on the plane. Under impossible circumstances, she remained calm, cool, and collected. During a twenty-three-minute call, she provided information that not only alerted people not flying on Flight 11 that America was under attack, but also helped inform the decision to shut down America's skies.  

Forever forty-five.  Forever loved.  Forever remembered. 

-AK  

Never Forgotten: Peter Teague Milano

Eight days from now marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001.  A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning.  It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day.  It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years.  It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Peter Teague Milano, forty-three years old, was at his desk on the 104th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001.  Mr. Milano worked at Cantor Fitzgerald as a corporate bond broker. Tragically, when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into the North Tower, he and his Cantor Fitzgerald colleagues were trapped above the impact zone and unable to escape. 

He and his wife, Patti, were the proud parents of two children, Peter Jr. and Jessica, who were sixteen and thirteen respectively at the time of his death. The Milanos lived in Middletown Township, New Jersey.   

Forever forty-three.  Forever loved.  Forever remembered. 

-AK  

Never Forgotten: FDNY FF Gary P. Geidel

Nine days from now marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001.  A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning.  It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day.  It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years.  It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

FDNY Firefighter Gary P. Geidel, forty-four years old, was approaching his 20th anniversary as a member of the FDNY.  Retirement was weeks way. He was assigned to Rescue 1 in Midtown Manhattan. On September 11, 2001, he was working overtime. His wife, Mathilda, reported that his quest was to buy a white farmhouse on three acres of land in Greenville, N.Y., where he, Mathilda, and their daughter, Mathilda Charlotte, were going to live when FF Geidel retired. Tragically, he never had the chance to retire. On that terrible Tuesday morning, he gave his life saving innocents at the World Trade Center.  

Prior to joining the FDNY, Gary Geidel served his nation as a United States Marine.  Upon his discharge from the Corps following his four-year hitch, he joined the FDNY.  

Forever forty-four.  Forever loved.  Forever remembered. 

-AK  

Never Forgotten: FDNY Lt. Joseph G. Leavey

Ten days from now marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001.  A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning.  It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day.  It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years.  It is the duty of the living to ensure that those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Joseph G. Leavey, forty-five years old, grew up in the Inwood section of Manhattan. He attended high school at Lew Alcindor's Alma Mater, Power Memorial Academy, where he was the class valedictorian in 1973. After high school, he earned his degree from Manhattan College's School of Engineering and after graduation in 1977, he pursued a career in civil engineering. 

As a child, he had aspired to become a member of the FDNY. In 1982, he realized his childhood dream. He was initially assigned to Engine 23 and then Ladder 4 in Midtown Manhattan. In February 1998, he was promoted to Lieutenant. Lt. Leavey then was assigned to Ladder 15 in Lower Manhattan. On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, he was among the first members of the FDNY to respond to the World Trade Center.  He died there rescuing innocents. 

Lt. Leavey lived in Pelham, New York, with his wife, Carole, and the couple's two children, Brian and Caitlin, who were sixteen and ten respectively at the time of his death. His stepdaughter, Kerri, who was twenty-six at the time of his death, lived in Manhattan. Kerri had gotten married on September 9, 2000. Lt. Leavey proudly performed the role of giving her away.  

Forever forty-five.  Forever loved.  Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: FDNY FF Michael Paul Ragusa

Eleven days from today marks twenty-five years since September 11, 2001.  A quarter century has passed since that terrible Tuesday morning. It is the duty of the living to remember those killed that day. It is the duty of the living to make sure that the stories of their lives continue to echo through the years. It is the duty of the living to ensure those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Michael Paul Ragusa, twenty-nine years old, spent seven years on the waiting list before joining the FDNY in 1999. He was assigned to Engine Company 250 in Brooklyn. On September 11, 2001, he responded to the World Trade Center with Engine Company 279, from Red Hook, Brooklyn. He was killed while saving innocents. 

FF Ragusa was one of 343 FDNY firefighters killed on September 11, 2001.  On September 8, 2003, he was the final one of the 343 to be laid to rest. 

Forever twenty-nine.  Forever loved.  Forever appreciated.

-AK