August 20, 2011 – today’s tribute is to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. 37 Port Authority police officers died on September 11, 2001, according to New York Magazine.

To be truthful, prior to September 11, 2001, I would not have been very interested in the Port Authority. I had a vague notion of an agency that handled ports, I guess. I had to research and found this Wikipedia article. I am receiving a history lesson in this month of tribute. Just for today, issues about interstate compacts, and turf wars, between two states were on the curriculum. I had no idea that the Port Authority became landlord for the World Trade Center properties in the 1960s.

The WTC, with its Twin Towers of 110 floors, splendiferous in its time, was brought low, some 28 years later by men, and their indoctrinators, who felt inadequate in the presence of this symbol of US financial power. Who knew the power of an inferiority complex? Yes, I know. It is supposed to be the religion thing. But why does this religious fervor always be accompanied by that promise of the virgins galore, in order to obtain the desired results? 

Who were these Port Authority workers who were killed? The first name that I came across in my go to source, the online CNN Special Report Edition, was Joseph Amatuccio, who literally climbed the corporate ladder, as the title of his tribute indicates, “From Tollbooths to Towers.” The following paragraph is heartbreaking and most likely indicative of the man:

Mr. Amatuccio was seen on the street outside the twin towers at one point on the morning of Sept. 11. Someone yelled, "Let's run!" Ms. Amatuccio was later told. He ran back in.

“He ran back in.” Truthfully, I would have run – away from danger.

Here is a second Port Authority worker, this time a police officer, and another case of “he went back in.” Officer Christopher C. Amoroso could also have saved himself, if not for himself, at least for his wife and little Sophia Rose. He was prescient in the letter that he wrote to his daughter. I confess. Tears are clouding my vision. But, I feel honored to have read about a gentleman who got to know “true love and happiness,” before he gave his life in service.

 I have a feeling that Jean Andrucki will be especially missed by her 3-year old nephew, the disabled kids and neighbors that she helped out.  Her bio states that her passions were nature and animals. I would add that another passion of this, “smart, tough American woman with a soft spot" – was people.

Richard A. Aronow  appeared to not fit the mold of the usual public perception of a lawyer. He shared and he was fair. The most telling tribute to the kind of man and lawyer he was, is the fact that “about 20 lawyers who had been on the opposing side of his deals attended his memorial service.” That is impressive. I think that I can safely assume that “sensei” continues to be missed.

“Generous and then some,” Arlene T. Babakitis, was able to move into the home that she bought with her hard earned money, only just prior to her death. That in itself is a lesson to us, to enjoy each day, because the next day is not guaranteed. The following description sums up what was more common in being an American:

"We were all raised to work hard, and save money, and be independent," said Karen Reoch, Mrs. Babakitis's younger sister.

Warning: I am about to get emotional again. James W. Barbella was one of “my” Marines. I should have known when I saw the title “He would never give up.”  He would “climb 110 flights of stairs,” from the subbasement,” and “descend by the stairs as well”? He was in the thick of things during the evacuation, up those same stairs. He did not leave his final post. 

Margaret L. Benson did not get to retire North Carolina nor did she get to go on that Mediterranean cruise. But she did live a full life for the time she was here, enjoying her family, work and “card games and cruises.”

I got the distinct impression that with his interest in the “why and how” of moviemaking, that Daniel Bergstein could probably have fit nicely into a careers in the movies. Plus, any husband or wife, who can give the spouse a heads up in the gift receiving department, contributes significantly to the reduction of marital stress level! 

The bio of Nathaniel Webb  echoes some of my upbringing minus the apple tree in the garden. Quite honestly, we as a nation, could do well to emulate how Mr. Webb lived his life in the “straight and narrow,” and his empathy for others. Generally, how many of us would have driven from the comfort of our homes to wait with a friend for a tow truck to come, with or without being asked?

Michael T. Wholey, the “Pied Piper” is no longer available to share his time with the kids who surrounded his car. His own children, his wife, the rest of his family, friends on and off the job, have also been deprived of his love and companionship. He is no longer there to do the “proper thing.”

There is no ending to this parade of brave, thoughtful, loving men and women. Ken Tietjen ran to danger, not from it. He “commandeered a taxi, banished the driver to the back seat, and drove to ground zero.” He wasn’t finished. He ran, to what turned out to be certain death, “commandeering” the last respirator, and back to the tower, completing a cycle of bravery.

Surviving life and crafting beauty – are two of the traits and talents that defined Lisa L. Trerotola. She shared surviving the 1993 bombing with Olabisi Shadie Layeni Yee, profiled on August 14, 2011. When I got to the end of the profile of Mrs. Trerotola, my heart was moved as I read the following:

"When I get emotional, I like to put her afghan around me because I feel that her arms are around me," Spina said.

It took a bunch of lowlife terrorists to retire Anthony Savas. At 72 years, having already served his country in the Korean War, he continued to serve his fellow man, until his forced retirement on September 11, 2001. Eureka (I have found it) – the secret to why Mr. Savas looked a decade younger than his age! In addition to his workouts, his secret is contained in the following paragraph:

"He was a very up guy," his wife said. "If I fought with him, he would never stay angry. He would come back with something to make me laugh and forget about it."

I know that the hymn Eternal Father Strong To Save is traditionally known as a Navy hymn, but that is the hymn that came to mind today. Maybe it came to mind because as I have been reliving that day for the past ten days, I was reminded of the effect that hymn had on me, as I was driving to work and it was being played on my car radio. I literally had to pray to God to keep me and the other drivers around me, safe. The tears were pouring down my face, almost obstructing my vision. I wrote the following in my book:

Monday, 12/10/01

The funeral service for Johnny “Mike” Spann at Arlington Cemetery,

is being shown. I listened to his wife Sharon say goodbye to her husband.

My heart really goes out to her and all of the family, especially the three

kids. At this moment, I do not even feel any bitterness towards those who

killed him. As Mrs. Spann indicated, God knows why her husband was

taken away. The orchestra is playing “Eternal Father Strong To Save.” I am losing it. The last time I heard that hymn I was driving to work and had to work hard to control my tears.
 
It was three days after the slaughter of 9/11, and I was still an emotional wreck. I pray that God takes care of that family, especially the children. I pray that they grow up knowing that their father died an honorable death, murdered by dishonorable “men.” He died in defense of his country. He appeared to be an example of the values of God, family, country.

By all rational thought, I should be depressed after writing about 9/11 for ten straight days. I am not. I continue to gain hope, courage, and gratitude from the lives of my fellow human beings, whose lives I have taken a glance into, via their tributes on Legacy.com and profiles in the New York Times.

Once again, I entreat God to continue to bless and preserve this country.