9/11 Remembrance
By Evelyn Scalice
Dozens gathered on September 13th at Lou Gehrig Plaza, to remember the men and women who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks, just 12 years ago.
It was a tearful yet joyous occasion as the names were recited and bells rang to pay tribute and remembrance to the 144 individuals who lived and served the Bronx community, and lost their lives on 9/11.
Among the family members and friends of those lost, others in attendance included Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr., Rabbi Avi Weiss, Administrative Judge Douglas E. McKeon, and The Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls’ string orchestra.
Diaz, like the other speakers, went on to thank all the police officers and fire fighters for all their hard work. He reiterated that those who lost their lives will never be forgotten and that the tragedy will continue to bring New Yorkers together. “Twelve years later and people say well that’s a dozen years, that’s a long time ago already,” said Diaz. “They say…that time heals all wounds, but I say that time cannot fill the void that’s still left.”
Ilia Rodriguez of Miami, Florida sat with her daughter Iliana, to pay tribute to her son Carlos Rey Lillo. Lillo, 38 at the time, was a paramedic and a first responder at the World Trade Center attacks. “He started taking people out,” said Rodriguez, “and when the first tower started collapsing, he was inside and he never came out.” Lillo’s body was never found.
Lillo was born in Puerto Rico and came to Astoria, Queens as a young teenager. He started his career as a volunteer at Astoria General Hospital and was a member of the FDNY paramedic force for over 18 years. In honor of his memory and dedication, a park located on 76th Street and 21st Avenue in Astoria has been named after him.
Rabbi Avi Weiss who was a 9/11 clergy first responder, went on to describe some of the things he had seen that day, and how he and clergymen of different religions stood together and prayed. “We stand before you with images of the lobby of Stuyvesant High School turned into a triage center,” said Rabbi Weiss, “Doctors heads in hands crying as they were waiting for the injured to come, but they never came.”
In what he called a “spiritual Kumbaya,” Rabbi Weiss recited some of the final words spoken by those who lost their lives, obtained from 9/11 tapes and cell phones.
Preceding the recitation of the Bronx 9/11 victims, Ruben Diaz Jr. shared an anecdote about his friend “Pop” McKinney, who he lost in the attacks. He recalled growing up together, learning how to play basketball and how “Pop’s” life, like many others, was cut too short.
The message shared by all the speakers in attendance was a sense of togetherness and community. All shared their admiration for the brave men and woman of the NYPD, FDNY, and the paramedics. Many said they were touched that, despite race or religion, New Yorkers united to pay tribute to the fallen.
“Whether we’re black, white, Latino, regardless if Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, if we’re tall or short, today we pause as a borough,” said Diaz. “We say we’ll never ever forget, we’ll always be here so as collectively, as one big Bronx family, we’ll comfort each other, and try the best that we can, to fill that void.”