Fallen 9/11 Heroes Honored with Bench at Peekskill Riverfront
Of the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, more than 400 were emergency workers who rushed to the horrific scene attempting to save others.
Three of the first responders who perished were members of the New York State Supreme Court Officers Association: Captain William Thompson, 51, Mitchell Wallace, 34, and Thomas Jurgens, 26, who died near each other.
On Saturday, a day before the 15th anniversary of attacks, Thompson, Wallace and Jurgens were honored by several hundred fellow officers, family, friends and others at the Riverfront Green in Peekskill with a bench bearing their names.
“I’m happy to see them finally get the recognition they deserve,” said Supreme Court Officers Association Chief Joseph Baccellieri, Sr. “They responded because fellow Americans needed their help. They responded because they are heroes, true heroes.”
“The word hero almost seems trite for what they did,” said New York Supreme Court Judge Richard Braun. “They went back in to help other people. It is something so moving to all of us what happened that horrific day.”
Robert Mastanduno, treasurer of the New York State Supreme Court Officers Association, had tried for more than two years to have the names of the three officers added to an existing 9/11 Memorial at Riverfront Green but was met with resistance by the Peekskill Fire Department, which fully funded and built the memorial in 2009.
The 9/11 Memorial in Peekskill was primarily designed to honor Samuel Oitice, a 25-year member of the Peekskill Fire Department and a former city police officer. Oitice, 45, who worked for FDNY Ladder 4 after working as a police officer in the city, died at the World Trade Center. He was found on March 13, 2002.
“It was a long and hard road to get to here today,” Mastanduno said. “Three heroes are taking their place next to the others who gave their lives.”
Philip Hersh, a prominent attorney in Peekskill, worked with the firefighters and Court Officers Association to reach a compromise and organize the memorial service. No city officials attended the service Saturday. State Assemblywoman Sandra Galef (D/Ossining) and Westchester County Legislator Catherine Borgia were in attendance. The bench was installed by the Peekskill Parks Department.
“It’s very special that we’re recognizing them here today,” Galef said. “I feel for the families here. It just gets relived every year. Let us not allow their sacrifices to be in vain.”
The three deceased court officers are memorialized at Ground Zero in Manhattan and at a memorial in Coney Island. The Supreme Court Officers Association has court houses in Peekskill.
“This was a very important thing to happen in the City of Peekskill and it’s the rightful thing,” said Westchester County Supreme Court Judge Linda Jamieson.
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