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

Never Forgotten: Joseph J. Pycior, Jr.

Twelve 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. 

Joseph J. Pycior, Jr., thirty-nine years old, spent approximately half of his life serving this nation as a member of the United States Navy.  He served on the aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington, and was a veteran of Desert Storm.  For him, the United States Navy was the family business. His uncle, his father, and his grandfather were all Navy veterans.   

On the morning of September 11, 2001, he was working at the Pentagon. He was an Aviation Warfare Systems Operator, First Class.  His Navy career was nearing its end.  He was just months away from retirement, at which time he was ready to begin his new career teaching history to middle school students. He and his wife, Terri, had two sons, Joseph, III, and Robbie. 

Forever thirty-nine.  Forever loved.  Forever appreciated. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: Catherine Fairfax MacRae

Thirteen 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 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. 

Catherine Fairfax MacRae, twenty-three years old, graduated from Princeton University in 2000 with her Bachelor's degree in Economics.  After graduation, she began her career at Fred Alger Management as a research analyst.  She was in her office on the 93rd floor of the North Tower on September 11, 2001, when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into the building.   

At the time of her death, Catherine Fairfax MacRae was dating Andrew Caspersen, who was attending law school at Harvard University.  She was survived by her parents, Cameron and Ann, and her younger sister, Annie.  

Forever twenty-three.  Forever loved.  Forever remembered. 

-AK