Reflecting On September 11th, 2001, A Day That Forever Changed Everything For Our City, Our Country, Each One Of Us On Staten Island
Editor’s note: We also published Senator Gillibrand’s statement about 9/11 and the importance of honoring our promise to never forget. BP Fossella hosted the annual Postcards 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, and Bayonne held their annual Interfaith Ceremony and Candlelight Vigil, along with a new display in Bayonne City Hall for the month of September.
Today, we reflect on September 11, 2001—a day that forever changed everything for our city, our country, and each of us in very personal ways. Here on Staten Island, that day hits home perhaps more than just about anyplace in America. We’re not merely identified as the hub for first responders; we’re a community that suffered a great loss. We mourn the loss of our heroic first responders, family members, and, equally, an overwhelming number of our neighbors who were employed at the World Trade Center and the nearby area and did not return home that day.
Staten Islanders have always been about service and looking out for each other. We saw that spirit shine bright on 9/11. Our firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and many others ran toward the danger without a second thought. They showed us all what real courage looks like.
Since then, many folks have had a hard road. The health effects from Ground Zero have been devastating; in large numbers, the first responders and survivors have faced serious illnesses. It isn’t over yet, and that is a constant reminder of what was left behind on that day. These folks don’t just need thanks; they need us to ensure they get the support and care they need and deserve going forward. These individuals deserve our gratitude and a steadfast promise to ensure they receive the necessary care and support.
As we pay tribute to those we lost on that horrific day, it’s equally important to stand by those still enduring its effects today. There’s a need for improved healthcare, enhanced resources, and fortified support networks for individuals grappling with the long-term effects of that day. They’ve always stood up for us.
God bless our first responders, our community, and our nation.
Sam
Banner Image: World Trade Center memorial. Image Credit – Ronny Rondon
Assemlymember Sam Pirozzolo
Sam Pirozzolo is a native Staten Islander. He is a frequent contributor to the Staten Islander, and is well-known and loved by people on both the Right and Left, in his North Shore community. Sam brings people together, instead of dividing, by speaking common sense and analyzing our island's, and city's, issues, with intelligence and concern for all. Sam Pirozzolo was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 8, 2022. The 63rd Assembly District represents parts of Richmond County. Sam has successfully operated his family’s optical practice for 33 years. He is the past president of Community Education Council 31 where he served for seven years. Some of his most notable accomplishments include the creation of a Gifted and Talented program for middle school students, the recommendation for the NYC Department of Education to hire retired police officers as school resource officers, and the successful fight for the immediate cleanup of toxic PCBs leaking from the light fixtures in school classrooms. As an education advocate, Sam has participated in historic litigation that led to the return of more than $4 billion to New York public schools. He also fought to ensure that co-located charter schools receive the same capital funding as their host public schools. While serving in the Legislature, Sam will work to support law enforcement officers with proper funding, fix broken bail and parole policies, and help small businesses grow and thrive in a stronger, more resilient economy.
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