There may be no greater disturbance to the Universe's natural order than a parent's burial of a child. We are not supposed to outlive our kids. We bring them into this world, for among other reasons, to fill our space when our time here is through. It is their job to keep us alive after we have passed by sharing stories about us to the children and, hopefully, the grandchildren who follow them. It is not supposed to be our job to keep alive their memory after they have died by sharing stories of them. Our movie is supposed to end before their movie does. A child should outlive his or her parents. It is only fair.
Among the many things that September 11, 2001 did was disabuse anyone who had not yet received the memo of the notion that Life is fair or even pretends to be. That day, and every day that has followed behind it, has reinforced the principle of Life's inherent inequity to every family directly affected by its events. Included among that number, of course, are those families for whom their murdered loved one has not been identified or recovered and who went forward with the necessary memorial service or funeral without a body.
Consider for a moment that in the dark, desperate days following September 11, 2001, miracles were few and far between. Among the 343 members of the FDNY killed that morning at the World Trade Center was Firefighter Michael Roberts of Engine 214 in Brooklyn. At age 31, he had only been on the job for approximately three-and-one-half years when he and his brothers from what is affectionately known as "The Nut House", which is the home of Engine 214 and Ladder 111. He had only been at Engine 214 for approximately six months, being proud to have been assigned there after he completed his three year rotation period in other firehouses.
FF Roberts was born into a family of public service. His uncle, Bob Roberts, and his father, John Roberts, had both been on the job with the FDNY. When Bob left the FDNY, he passed his badge, #6611, to his brother, John. John, thereafter, passed it on to his son, Michael, when Michael joined the FDNY. His family described FF Michael Roberts as a pivotal person in his family and a source of great joy in their lives.
FF Roberts' mom, Veronica, is the sister of Joseph Fox. At the time of the September 11 attacks, her brother Joe was also known by his official title, which was NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Fox. Six weeks or so after the attacks, Michael's body had not been recovered from what was now known as Ground Zero. His parents opted to do what so many families did - and had to do - which was have a funeral for Michael without a body.
FF Roberts' funeral was scheduled for Saturday, October 27, 2001. Approximately twelve hours before his loved ones were to gather to bid him farewell and lower a coffin not containing his body into the earth, fate intervened. Chief Fox received a phone call from a colleague and long-time friend, the purpose of which was to relay a message to Chief Fox from another colleague and long-time friend, NYPD Chief of Department Joe Esposito. The message? On Friday night, the 26th of October, 2001, the body of FF Michael Roberts was found on the pile at Ground Zero.
As remarkable as it is that his body was found less than twelve hours before his funeral, the truly remarkable piece of the story is that Chief Esposito spearheaded an operation that made sure that FF Roberts made it home in time for his own funeral and his parents, although forced to do something that no parent ever wants to do, were able to see him and say goodbye to him before they had to bury him.
It is a story that - and I say this with not even a hint of regret or embarrassment - Chief Fox tells significantly better than I ever could. He shared it in the New York Daily News on Sunday and I cannot recommend it to you enough.
-AK
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