Saturday, September 13, 2003

Fun With Headlines


John Paul II Urges Christians to Abandon Mediocrity

I love that headline! Of course, soon we will hear condemnations of the Pope by defenders of mediocrity. Richard McBrien will condemn the Vatican for trying to force people to give up mediocrity. Hans Kung will write a treatise on why mediocrity is compatible with Christianity. Andrew Sullivan will claim mediocrity is code for homosexuality. And Andrew Greeley will write that mediocrity is part of our Catholic heritage and therefore Catholics will never give it up.

Aid Must Not Wound Africa's Dignity, Says Cardinal Arinze

Georgetown professors protest, call Cardinal offensive.


Bishops Reminded of Their Role as Custodians of the Faith

Bishops' spokesperson say Bishops will respond when they get back from the golf course.
BISHOP MURPHY'S HOMILY FROM THE MASS FOR VICTIMS OF SEPTEMBER 11th
September 10, 2003


"In the Torah, Moses enjoins on the followers of the Law this solemn injunction: “Today I offer you the choice of life and good, or death and evil…Choose life and then you and your descendants will live…”
(Dt 30: 11,20) Two years ago a small group of evil minded men chose death and chose to inflict death and evil on the innocent, young and old from every strata of our society here in New York and Washington as they hijacked four planes to wreak their havoc and destruction. Each of us here tonight, across this island and country, indeed around the world, has been affected by this brutal act of terrorism. Neither tonight nor in the years to come will we ever be able adequately to plumb the depths of the suffering or give speech to the feelings that dwell in broken hearts too well acquainted with the pain of loss.. But gathering as we do tonight, our being together is a true and meaningful counteract to terrorism and to evil. For what we say tonight and everyday of our lives is that we reject death and evil. We choose life and good. And while we carry this sorrow in our hearts, this pain deep into the very bowels of our being, we will never follow the men of evil. We will always choose life. We will always seek what is good."
Police investigate allegations of sex abuse in team hazing

Once again, Long Islanders show the nation just how classy we are.
Ailing Pope John Paul II Struggles Again in Slovakia

Wouldn't it be great if the Pope announced he could no longer travel but invited people to visit him in Rome. And after so many years of giving so much to people, we could then visit the Pope by the millions. Imagine millions of people streaming into Vatican City, setting all kinds of records, to pay tribute to John Paul the Great.
The Gen-X Church
What can you expect from a bunch of slackers? A lot.


"Gen X never experienced major economic turmoil or the fear of global uncertainty— but on Sept. 11, 2001, they grew up."

Pretty true, although global uncertainty could describe the period before communism was assigned to the ash-heap of history.

"Gen X has shown a strong interest in connecting with the history of the Church. For instance, there is a renewed interest in many of the worship traditions of the Catholic Church but practiced with intense meaning and focus rather than rote memory."

True 'nuff.

"By contrast, Gen X—always having lived in the shadows of the most famous generation—will have more thoroughly reflected the true light of Jesus Christ through their authenticity, perseverance and conviction than any generation before them."

Well, one could hope.

Abortion clinics fear fallout after Paul Hill's execution


Remember the press reporting fears of violence against abortion clinics after the execution of Paul Hill? I didn't think there would be any and found these fears rather bigoted. Now think of all those claiming that Mel Gibson's Passion movie will inspire violence. I suspect the same motivation of anti-Christian prejudice, and predict the same results: no violence.

Friday, September 12, 2003

Someone also searched for Dolores Fanelli who was a Marsh & McLennon employee who died at the World Trade Center. Also Maxima Jean-Pierre, a worker in the kitchen at Cantor Fitzgerald. I will pray for these victims and their families as well.
Someone ended up on this blog after searching for “don robson manhasset long island”. Mr. Robson was a Cantor Fitzgerald employee who perished in the World Trade Center according to this profile. He was one of many victims of 9/11 from St. Mary’s in Manhasset. On EWTN tonight, The World Over Live rebroadcast some of the September 11th special from last year in which Raymond Arroyo interviewed some people from St. Mary’s. Whoever searched for don robson, I am sorry for your loss and will pray for him and his family tonight. God Bless.
Some bloggers are talking about the whining and complaining going around St. Blog’s. Gerard at Catholic Blog for Lovers is particularly affected by this stuff. I don’t really have a problem with bloggers speaking bluntly, with anger, especially when discussing the corruption in the Church. I have learned the most about the so called scandals in the Church from The Diocese Report and Roman Catholic Faithful, two websites that have been criticized for too much negativity and harshness. I think these websites are extremely valuable and the truth, while harsh, must be stated loudly. The thing to keep in mind is how long people have gotten away with corruption and how long many good people have been ignored. The RCF site, for example, exposed the infamous St. Sebastian’s website years ago, even sending information on Archbishop Cawcutt to the Vatican. Cawcutt simply received a slap on the hand until recently when he was forced to resign. Why did it take 3 years for this man to be forced out?? Only within the past few weeks have two priests associated with this site been forced out or exposed. The corruption in the Church is severe and the Bishops have done next to nothing about it, so yelling is really the only way to wake them up.

The other point is that blogging by its nature is really conducive to whining. I mean it is very tempting to complain and vent. When I started this blog, I really intended it to be a positive place where my wonderful experiences in Catholic school and coming back to the Church would hopefully entertain and enlighten others. I fell into complaining and excoriating the dopes in the Church right away however. St. Blog’s is a wonderful place for varied opinions with each unique blog contributing in its own way. While I appreciate the positive nature of blogs such as Catholic Blog for Lovers, From the Anchor Hold, and Flos Cameli, I also appreciate equally the sometimes harsh and blunt posts on blogs such as Extreme Catholic, Catholic and Enjoying It, and Bettnet. After all, according to a couple of articles written about St. Blogs, wasn’t it the “Situation” that caused so many Catholics to start blogging in the first place. So you have to expect some spleen venting. If the fighting and harshness and concentration on negative things gets too much for you, simply avoid those blogs that are the hardest to take, or avoid the comment boxes when necessary.
Every September 11th should be a national day of remembrance. One aspect of this day would be for the President to hand out special Sept. 11th pardons, as an act of mercy. Murderers, child molesters, non-citizens and repeat offenders would not be eligible and all pardons should be screened by the Department of Justice, in order to avoid Clinton-like corruption of the process. There are plenty of non-violent drug offenders that could be released. For the 5th anniversary of the massacre, the number of pardons should equal the number of Americans murdered on 9/11. This extraordinary act would speak volumes to people around the world as well as free up space in the jails for violent criminals.

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

My fellow Long Islanders killed on 9/11

Abad, Maria Rose 49 Syosset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Abate, Andrew Anthony 37 Melville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Aceto, Richard Anthony 42 Wantagh , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Addamo, Christy A. 28 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ahearn, Brian G. 43 Huntington, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Amato, James M. 43 Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Angelini Jr., Joseph 38 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Angelini Sr., Joseph 63 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ashley, Janice Marie 25 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Aviles, Ezra 41 Commack, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Baierwalter, Robert John 44 Albertson, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Barbella, James William 53 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Barnes, Sheila Patricia 55 Bay Shore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bart, Scott D. 28 Malverne, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Beck, Lawrence Ira 38 Baldwin, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bergsohn, Alvin 48 Baldwin Harbor, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Blaney, Janice Lee 55 Williston Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Blass, Craig Michael 27 Greenlawn, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Boehm, Bruce Douglas 49 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bonomo, Frank 42 Port Jefferson, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Bowers, Kimberly S. 31 Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Box, Gary R. 37 North Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Boyle, Michael 37 Westbury, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Brennan, Francis Henry 50 Oak Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Brennan, Peter 30 Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Brethel, Daniel J. 43 Farmingville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Broghammer, Herman Charles 58 North Merrick, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Browne-Radburn, Bettina 49 Atlantic Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bruehert, Richard George 38 Westbury, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Bueche, Nancy Clare 43 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Burns, Donald James 61 Nissequogue, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Butler, Thomas M. 37 Kings Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Cahill, Michael John 37 East Williston, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Camaj, Roko 60 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cappello, Jonathan Neff 23 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cappers, James Christopher 33 Wading River, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Caproni, Richard Michael 34 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Carey, Dennis M. 51 Wantagh, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Carson Jr., James Joseph 32 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cascio, Paul Reegan 23 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Caufield, Robert John 49 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cavalier, Judson 26 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cawley, Michael Joseph 32 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Cefalu, Jason Michael 30 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cesta, Joni 37 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Chalcoff, William 41 Roslyn, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Chiarchiaro, Dorothy J. 61 Glenwood, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Chiofalo Jr., Nicholas Paul 39 Selden, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Clyne, Susan Marie 42 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Coakley, Steven 36 Deer Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Colaio, Stephen J. 32 Montauk, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Colbert, Kevin Nathaniel 25 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Colin, Robert Dana 49 West Babylon, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Comer, Ronald Edward 56 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Connors, Jonathan McManus "J.C." 55 Old Brookville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Corbett, Joseph Albert 28 Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cosgrove, Kevin M. 46 West Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cove, James E. 48 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Coyle-Eulau, Michele 38 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Crisci, John A. 48 Holbrook, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Cross, Dennis A. 60 Islip Terrace, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Crotty, Thomas G. 42 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Cudmore, Neil James 38 Port Washington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Curia, Laurence Damian 41 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Curtin, Michael Sean 45 Medford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
D'Amadeo, Vincent Gerard 36 East Patchouge, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Da Mota, Manuel John 44 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Danz, Vincent G. 38 Farmingdale, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Dean, William Thomas 35 Floral Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
DeAngelis, Thomas Patrick 51 Westbury, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
DeAngelis Jr., Robert J. 47 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Debek, Tara E. 35 Babylon, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
DeBin, Anna Marjia 30 East Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
DeMeo, Martin N. 47 Farmingville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Desperito, Andrew J. 44 East Patchogue, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Diagostino, Michael Louis 41 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Diaz-Sierra, Judith Berquis 32 Bay Shore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dickey Jr., Joseph Dermott 50 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dimmling, William John 47 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dominguez, Charles "Carlos" 34 East Meadow, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dominguez, Jerome Mark Patrick 37 Holtsville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Donnelly, Kevin W. 43 Seaford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Donovan, Jacqueline 34 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Downey, Raymond Matthew 63 Deer Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Duffy, Gerard 53 Manorville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Duffy, Michael Joseph 29 Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dunne, Christopher Joseph 28 Mineola, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Dwyer, Patrick Thomas 37 Nissequogue, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Eaton, Robert Douglas 37 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Edwards, Dennis Michael 35 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Eisenberg, Eric Adam 32 Commack, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ellis, Mark Joseph 26 Huntington, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Erker, Erwin L. 41 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Esposito, William 52 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Evans, Robert Edward "Bobby" 36 Franklin Square, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Fairben, Keith George 24 Floral Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Fallon Jr., William L. 38 Coram, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fanelli, Dolores Brigitte 38 Farmingville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fanning, John Joseph "Jack" 54 West Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Farrell, Terrence Patrick 45 Huntington, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Farrelly, Thomas Patrick 54 East Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fazio Jr., Robert 41 Freeport, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Fehling, Lee S. 28 Wantagh, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ferris, Robert John 63 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fitzgerald, Ryan Daniel 26 Floral Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fitzsimons, Richard P. 57 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fletcher, Andre G. 37 North Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Florio, John Joseph 33 Oceanside, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Fosteris, Ana 58 Coram, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Foti, Robert Joseph 42 Albertson, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Freiman, Brett Owen 29 Roslyn, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Fried, Arlene Eva 49 Roslyn Heights, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Friedman, Andrew Keith 44 Woodbury, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Gambino Jr., Thomas 48 Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ganci, Peter 54 North Massapequa, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Garcia, David 40 Freeport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Gardner, William Arthur "Bill" 45 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Gardner, Thomas A. 39 Oceanside, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Gary, Bruce H. 51 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Geier, Paul Hamilton 36 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Genco Jr., Peter Victor 36 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Geraghty, Edward F. 45 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Geyer, James "Jimmy" Gerald 41 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Giammona, Vincent Francis 40 Valley Stream, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Gies, Ronnie E. 43 Merrick, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Giorgetti, Steven A. 43 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Giugliano, Cynthia 46 Nesconset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Goldflam, Jeffrey Grant 48 Melville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Granados, Gilbert Franco 51 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Grant, Winston Arthur 59 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Green, Wade Brian 42 Westbury, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Grimner, David Joseph 51 Merrick, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Grzymalski, Matthew James 34 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Guja, Geoffrey E. 47 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Hannan, Michael Lawrence 34 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Haran, James A. 41 Malverne, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Haskell, Timothy 34 Seaford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Haskell Jr., Thomas Theodore 37 Massapequa, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Haub, Michael Helmut 34 Roslyn Heights, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Haviland, Timothy Aaron 41 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hayes, Philip Thomas 67 East Northport , NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Healey, Michael K. 42 East Patchogue, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Herold, Gary 44 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hetzel, Thomas 33 Elmont, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Hickey, Brian Christopher 47 Bethpage, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Higgins, Timothy B. 43 Farmingville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Hobbs, Thomas Anderson 41 Baldwin, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hoerner, Ronald George 58 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hoffman, Stephen G. 36 Long Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hopper, James Patrick 52 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Horn, Michael 27 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Howard, George Gerald 45 Hicksville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Howley-Dorsey, Jennifer L. 34 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hughes, Kris Robert 30 Nesconset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Hunter, Joseph G. 32 South Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Hussa, Robert R. 51 Roslyn, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ielpi, Jonathan Lee 29 Great Neck, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Inghilterra Jr., Louis Steven 45 New Castle, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Iskenderian Jr., Aram 41 Merrick, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Jagoda, Jake Denis 24 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Jean-Pierre, Maxima 40 Bellport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Johnston, William R. 31 North Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Jones, Christopher D. 53 Huntington , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Jordan, Andrew 36 Remsenburg, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Jordan, Robert Thomas 34 East Williston, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Josiah, Jane Eileen 47 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Jovic, Anthony 39 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Jurgens, Thomas Edward 26 Lawrence , NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Jurgens, Paul William 47 Levittown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Katsimatides, John 31 East Marion, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kelley Jr., Frederick H. 57 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kelly, Joseph Anthony 40 Oyster Bay, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kelly, Thomas Richard 38 Riverhead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Kelly, James Joseph "Kells" 39 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kelly, Timothy Colin 37 Port Washington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Kennedy, Thomas J. 36 Islip Terrace, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Kerwin, Ronald T. 42 Levittown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Kiefer, Michael 26 Hempstead, NY Missing (Emergency/Rescue)
Kloepfer, Ronald Phillip 39 Franklin Square, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Kuo Jr., Frederick 53 Great Neck, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lachhman, Amarnauth 42 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Langone, Thomas Michael 39 Williston Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Langone, Peter J. 41 Roslyn Heights, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Lee, Gary H. 62 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lee, Richard Yun Choon 34 Great Neck, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lehman, Edward Joseph 41 Glen Cove, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Leistman, David Ralph 43 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lenoir, John Robinson 38 Locust Valley, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
LeVeen, Jeffrey Earle 55 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Levine, Robert "Bobby" West Babylon, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Licciardi, Ralph M. 30 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lillo, Carlos R. 37 Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Linnane, Robert Thomas 33 West Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Logler, Elizabeth Claire "Beth" 31 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lopes, Salvatore 40 Franklin Square, NY Missing (WTC Occupant)
Lucania, Charles Peter 34 East Atlantic Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lynch, Michael Francis 33 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Lynch, Farrell Peter 39 Centerport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lynch, Louise A. 58 Amityville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Lyons, Patrick 34 South Setauket, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Maerz, Noell C. 29 Long Beach, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Magee, Charles Wilson 51 Wantagh , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Magee, Brian 52 Floral Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mahon, Thomas Anthony 37 East Norwich, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mahoney, William J. 38 Bohemia, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Maio, Joseph Daniel 32 Roslyn Harbor, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Maloney, Joseph E. 46 Farmingville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Mannetta, Debra M. 31 Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Manning, Terence John 36 Point Lookout, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Marchese, Laura A. Giglio 35 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mardovich, Edward Joseph 42 Lloyd Harbor, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Marino, Lester Vincent 57 Massapequa, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Martin, Peter C. 43 Miller Place, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Martinez Jr., Jose Angel 49 Hauppauge, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Masi, Stephen Frank 55 Selden, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mastrocinque, Rudolph 43 Kings Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mazza-Delosh, Kathy Nancy 46 Farmingdale, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McAleese, Brian G. 36 Baldwin, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McCabe, Brendan F. 40 Sayville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McCarthy, Justin 30 Port Washington , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McCarthy, Michael Desmond 33 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McDonnell, Brian Grady 38 Wantagh, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McGovern, William J. 49 Smithtown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McGovern, Ann 68 East Meadow, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McHale, Thomas Michael 33 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
McShane, Terence A. 37 West Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
McWilliams, Martin Edward 35 Kings Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Medaglia, Rocco A. 49 Melville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mehta, Alok 23 Hempstead, NY Missing (WTC Occupant)
Meisenheimer, Raymond 46 West Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Meltzer, Stuart Todd 32 Syosset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mendez, Charles 38 Floral Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Mercurio, Ralph Joseph 47 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Merkouris, George 35 Levittown, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Metzler, Jill Ann 32 Franklin Square, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Miller, Joel 55 Baldwin, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Miller Jr., Henry Alfred 52 Massapequa, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Mills, Charles Morris 61 Brentwood, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mingione, Thomas 34 West Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Mistrulli, Joseph 47 Wantagh, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Moccia Sr., Frank V. 57 Hauppauge, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Mojica, Manuel 37 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Moody, Thomas 45 Stony Brook, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Morgan, Dorothy 47 Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Muldowney Jr., Richard 40 Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Murphy, Kevin James 40 Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Murphy IV, James Francis 30 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Napolitano, John 33 Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Narula, Manika K. 22 Kings Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Neblett, Rayman Marcus 31 Roslyn Heights, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Nedell, Laurence 52 Lindenhurst, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Nelson, Michele Ann 27 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Nelson, Peter Allen 42 Huntington Station, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Niestadt Jr., Frank John 55 Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Niven, John Ballantine 44 Oyster Bay, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Nussbaum, Jeffrey Roger 37 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
O'Berg, Dennis Patrick Babylon, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
O'Brien, Timothy Michael 40 Brookville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
O'Callaghan, Daniel 42 Smithtown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
O'Keefe, Patrick J. 44 Oakdale, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
O'Neill Jr., Peter J. 21 Amityville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
O'Rourke, Kevin M. 44 Hewlett, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
O'Shea, Patrick J. 45 Farmingdale, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Oelschlager, Douglas E. 36 St. James, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Olcott, Gerald Michael 55 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Olson, Maureen Lyons "Rene" 50 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Opperman, Michael C. 45 Selden, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ortale, Peter K. 37 Sag Harbor, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ostrowski, James Robert 37 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Otten, Michael 42 East Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Owens, Jr., Peter J. 42 Williston Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Palmer, Orio Joseph 45 Valley Stream, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Panatier, Christopher Matthew 36 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Paolillo, John M. 51 Glen Head, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Papa, Edward Joseph 47 Oyster Bay, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Parro, Robert 35 Levittown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Pascuma, Michael J. 50 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Patel, Dipti 38 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Patterson, Bernard E. "Bernie" 46 Upper Brookville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Pearsall, Durrell V. 38 Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Pedicini, Thomas E. 30 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Perez, Anthony 33 Locust Valley, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Perroncino, Joseph John 33 Smithtown, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Perrotta, Edward Joseph 43 Mount Sinai, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Pettit, Glen Kerrin 30 Oakdale, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Pollicino, Steve 48 Plainview, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Poulos, Richard N. 55 Levittown, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Prior, Kevin M. 28 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Prunty, Richard 57 Sayville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Puckett, John Foster 47 Glen Cove, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Quackenbush, Christopher 44 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Quappe, Lincoln 38 Sayville, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Raines, Harry A. 37 Bethpage, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ramzey, Lorenzo E. 48 East Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rand, Adam David 30 Bellmore, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Reda, Gregory 33 New Hyde Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Regan, Robert M. 48 Floral Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Rice III, Kenneth Frederick 34 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Robson, Donald Arthur 52 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rodrigues, Antonio Jose Carrusca 35 Port Washington, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Rogan, Matthew 37 West Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Romagnolo, Joseph M. 37 Coram, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rosen, Mark Harlan 45 West Islip, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rosenbaum, Brooke David 31 Franklin Square, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Rosenblum, Andrew Ira 45 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Roy Sr., Timothy Alan 36 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ruggiero, Susan Ann 30 Plainview, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ruhalter, Adam Keith 41 Plainview, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ruiz-Diaz, Obdulio 44 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Russo Sr., Michael Thomas 44 Nesconset, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Ryan, Jonathan Stephan 32 Bayville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Ryan, Matthew Lancelot 54 Seaford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Sadocha, Francis John 41 Huntington Station, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Saloman, Wayne John 43 Seaford, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Salvaterra, Frank G. 41 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sanchez, Alva Cynthia Jeffries 41 Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sarle, Paul F. 38 Babylon, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Scauso, Dennis 46 Dix Hills, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Scharf, John G. 29 Manorville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Schmidt, Karen Helene 42 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Schott Jr., Frank G. 39 Massapequa Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Schrang, Gerard Patrick 45 Holbrook, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Schunk, Edward William 54 Baldwin, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Schwartz, Mark 50 West Hempstead, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Seaman, Michael Herman 41 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Selwyn, Howard 47 Hewlett, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Shaw, Jeffery James 42 Levittown, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sherry, John Anthony 34 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sliwak, Robert F. 42 Wantagh, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Smagala Jr., Stanley S. 36 Holbrook, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Smith, James Gregory 43 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Smith, Daniel Laurence 47 Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Smith, Kevin Joseph 47 Mastic, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Smithwick, Bonnie Jeanne 54 Quogue, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Spampinato Jr., Donald F. 39 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Spataro, John Anthony 32 Mineola, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Spitz, William E. 49 Oceanside, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Stack, Lawrence T. 58 Lake Ronkonkoma, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Stajk, Gregory 46 Long Beach, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Steckman, William V. 56 West Hempstead, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Stern, Andrew 45 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Stone, Lonny Jay 43 Bellmore, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Stuart, Walwyn W. 28 Valley Stream, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Sullivan, Christopher P. 38 Massapequa, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Suozzo, James Joseph 47 Hauppauge, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sutcliffe Jr., Robert 39 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Sweeney, Brian Edward 29 Merrick , NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Szocik, Kevin Thomas 27 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Taddonio, Michael 39 Huntington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Takahashi, Keiichiro 53 Port Washington, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Talty, Paul 40 Wantagh, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Terrenzi, Brian John 29 Hicksville, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Thompson, Brian Thomas 42 Dix Hills, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Tighe, Stephen Edward 41 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Tipping II, John James 33 Port Jefferson, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Titolo, Michelle Lee 34 Copiague, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Tompsett, Stephen Kevin 39 Garden City, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Trant, Daniel Patrick 40 Northport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Urban, Diane Maria 50 Malverne, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Vianna, Matthew Gilbert 23 Manhasset, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Vigiano, Joseph Vincent 34 Medford, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Vigiano II, John T. 36 West Islip, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Vignola Jr., Frank J. 44 Merrick, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Vitale, Joshua S. 28 Great Neck, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Voskerijian, Garo H. 43 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wallace, Mitchel Scott 34 Mineola, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Wallice Jr., John 43 Huntington , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Washington, Derrick Christopher 33 Calverton, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Waters, Charles 44 Bethpage, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Watson, Kenneth Thomas 39 Smithtown, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Weaver, Walter Edward 30 Centereach, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Webster, Dinah 50 Port Washington, NY Missing (WTC Occupant)
Wengerchuk, Oleh D. 56 Centerport, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wieman, Mary Catherine Lenz 43 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wilkinson, Glenn E. 46 Bayport, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Williams Jr., Crossley Richard 28 Uniondale , NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wilson, Donna Ann 48 Williston Park, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wiswall, David 54 North Massapequa, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Wright, John Wayne 33 Rockville Centre, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
York, Raymond R. 45 Valley Stream, NY Deceased Emergency / Rescue Personnel
Zaccoli, Joseph C. 39 Valley Stream, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Zaslow, Ira 55 North Woodmere, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
Zois, Prokopios "Paul" 46 Lynbrook, NY Deceased WTC Occupant
September 11th, 2001


I was in a sexual harassment seminar at work that day, and the lawyer running it had a sister who worked in the WTC. An executive interrupted the seminar to tell her that her sister had called, she was okay. After the Pentagon was attacked the meeting was broken up prematurely and we went back to our desks numb. A co-worker said a plane had been hijacked and crashed in Pittsburgh (where my brother lives). I called my mother and left a message on her machine to turn on the news. I used the internet on my work pc to check out the news sites. The whole company closed down early, at 2 p.m. and I drove home using a “backway” through local roads since we had heard the parkways were closed or clogged. The Long Island Expressway was closed on the westbound side all the way to Suffolk County (60 miles or more). This was to allow emergency vehicles to get to the city. While going home the local route, which I often took, I turned onto Oak Street which runs by Hofstra University. I remember being shocked to see dozens of cars parked on the concrete island right in between the two sides of the street. They were all parked haphazardly and there were 2 people, in full military dress, running across the street towards the ROTC/Reserves center. That is when it hit me - we are under attack. When I got home, all the channels were out, since the antennas were on the WTC. I had just bought a satellite dish a couple of weeks before so I was able to watch Foxnews. I remember Bill O’Reilly broadcasting his show from the Channel 12 studios on Long Island because he could not get into the city. I remember Rudy Guiliani, (who had recently become such a jerk most of us were glad he was leaving office), walking down the street saying “Put your mask on, put your mask on”. His press conferences showed him to rise to his better nature, calm, determined, reassuring, compassionate. I remember MSNBC showing the attacks and the collapse and the people running and screaming over and over again. To this day I hate MSNBC for that, they showed it constantly, relentlessly. I remember hearing that there may have been hundreds of firefighters in the collapsed buildings. I also remember the press announcing that 5000 people may have been killed. The funerals were everywhere, the first one I saw was at the local place where we had had my father’s wake just 10 months before. I remember seeing people lining up for a block to get in to pay their respects. For months, everyday, there were obituaries and for months there were funerals everywhere. I went food shopping one Saturday and had to turn back because the whole street was blocked off for a firefighter’s funeral. One day while going to the bookstore for a relaxing time, I had to wait behind a motorcycle cop, at the entrance to the Southern State Parkway for a funeral procession to pass. I remember seeing an article in the local paper about my high school, and learning for the first time the name of a classmate who was killed. All over the island, there were flags, and banners hung. Sheets with messages “ God Bless the NYFD and NYPD” and “We will never forget 9-11” and “God Bless America” hung on every overpass on every parkway. This is more amazing when you realize NY is the cynicism capital of the world. Every car around had a message or flag on it, something I have never seen before, even during the Gulf War. That week, I had a ticket to fly to my niece’s second birthday party, which could not be used. Instead, I drove with my mother across Staten Island, American flag taped to the side window, pass the recently closed Fresh Kills Landfill, where the sight of crushed firetrucks on top of the hills was just surreal. I watched the O’Reilly Factor in Pittsburgh and heard the guest William Bennett mention Chaminade High and all the people connected to the school that were lost. (O’Reilly is a graduate). I will never forget the feeling in New York after the attack. I wish America had capitalized on the incredible unity of the time. Two years has not been enough time to forget, to forgive or to calm down.

Monday, September 08, 2003

Hunt for Osama bin Laden Narrowed to Hostile, Rugged Region of Pakistan
Last 9/11 Firefighter Buried
Welcome back Jeanetta from De Fidei Oboedientia!! This is a great blog and it looks great in blue.
If I can take time out from my September 11th posts--has anyone noticed all the violence against abortion clinics after that nut in Florida was executed?? Yeah me neither.

Sunday, September 07, 2003

37 Port Authority police officers were murdered on September 11th
I don't understand why this is happening: Many September 11th victims' families have not signed up for the compensation fund.
Fire Families Carrying On, Alone
NEVER FORGET

"there are about 3,051 children who lost a parent, according to a Newsday analysis last year, 2,172 of whom were 17 or younger that day."
I flew to Pittsburgh for the weekend for my niece's birthday. Security at the airport was terrible, this is the first time since September 11th that I was not "wanded" at either airport, and this time my id was not even checked at Laguardia, which is very surprising. How soon people forget!! I can understand that some of this security stuff is somewhat useless anyway but what else is being overlooked at the airport? The national borders? The Immigration Department?? At least some areas have been improved though:

Two Years After 9/11, Security Still Has a Long Way To Go