Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling served the people of the City of New York as a member of the FDNY for slightly less than a quarter century. At sixty-one, she approximately six months from retirement, looking forward to spending time with her daughter and her grandchildren.
Then, last Thursday, everything changed. In a New York minute.
Lt. Russo-Elling walked a half block from her unit to grab something to eat on Thursday afternoon. Instead of getting lunch, she was stabbed to death by yet another one of New York City's seemingly endless supply of madmen. It was an unprovoked attack, of course. As if that makes any goddamn difference to her family. Any difference at all.
Twenty-one years ago, Lt. Russo-Elling was one of the heroes who responded to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. In addition to serving and protecting the residents of New York City, in her spare time she volunteered as a member of the Huntington Community First Aid Squad, serving and protecting the people of the town where she lived.
Her death is not merely heartbreaking, which of course it is. It is infuriating. She shall be missed by those she loved and those who loved her most of all. Every day.
Forever.
-AK
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