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

Never Forgotten: Christine Ann Snyder

Two weeks 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. 

Christine Ann Snyder, thirty-two years old, lived in Kailua, Hawaii.  She graduated from the University of Hawaii with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and had, in June 2001, married her high-school sweetheart, Ian Pescaia.  

She worked for the final six years of her life for The Outdoor Circle, one of Hawaii's oldest non-profit environmental organizations, as a certified arborist and project manager for landscapes and planting.  On the morning of September 11, 2001, she was a passenger on United Flight 93, beginning the long journey home following what had been an impromptu first-time visit to New York City.  She had been on the East Coast attending the American Forestry Conference in Washington, D.C.  Among the attractions she had visited on Monday, September 10, 2001, was the World Trade Center.  

Forever thirty-two.  Forever loved.  Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: FDNY FF Joseph Hunter

Fifteen 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 Gerard Hunter, thirty-one years old, was just eighteen days shy of his thirty-second birthday when he was killed at the World Trade Center while saving others on September 11, 2001.  At the age of 18, he joined the South Hempstead Volunteer Fire Department.  In 1994, he graduated from Hofstra University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. 

He joined the FDNY in 1996.  He was assigned to Squad 288 in Maspeth, Queens.  He was one of six members of Squad 288 inside the South Tower rescuing civilians when the building collapsed.  His helmet was found in the rubble of Ground Zero. It is now displayed in the National September 11 Museum. 

Forever thirty-one.  Forever loved.  Forever remembered. 

-AK 

Never Forgotten: Roko Camaj

Sixteen 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 those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

Roko Camaj, sixty years old, had worked for ABM Industries since 1973, as a window washer at the World Trade Center. His domain was the upper floors of the South Tower, on which the windows were made from wider panes of glass to provide expansive views fromm the observation deck, which required the windows be washed by hand.  "It's just me and the sky.  I don't bother anybody and nobody bothers me." 

He came to the United States from Montenegro in 1969.  He lived with his wife, Katrina, in Manhasset, Long Island.  The Camajs were the proud parents of three grown children.  

Forever sixty. Forever loved. Forever remembered.

-AK

Never Forgotten: NYPD Officer John D'Allara, ESU 2

Seventeen 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 those who were murdered that day are never forgotten. 

John D'Allara, forty-seven years old, was accepted to the Police Academy in January 1983. He graduated from the Academy in June 1983. He was a police officer for slightly more than eighteen years. He spent the first four years of his career at the 46th Precinct, Bronx Task Force. For the final fourteen years of his career, he was a member of one of the NYPD's elite Emergency Services Units, ESU 2, which operated out of Harlem.  

Officer D'Allara and his wife, Carol, were the proud parents of two sons, John and Nicholas, who were seven and two years old respectively when Officer D'Allara was killed on September 11, 2001, in the collapse of the North Tower.  I recommend that between now and September 11, you invest the time to watch National Geographic's three-part series, 9/11 Reunited. Episode Three features the story of how Officer D'allara and FDNY Firefighter Bill Spade from Rescue 5 in Staten Island worked together to get a stuck door open, which saved the lives of almost two dozen people.  Officer D'Allara's two sons have followed their father's path into public service.  John is a reservist in the United States Marine Corps and Nicholas is an NPYD Police Officer, wearing his father's badge and working in his father's first precinct, the 46th in the Bronx. 

Forever forty-seven. Forever loved. Forever remembered.