New York September 11, 2004
Parents and grandparents of victims of the Nine-Eleven attacks in New York
will lead the ceremony today at Ground Zero to mark the third anniversary
of the attacks.
After a moment of silence at 8:46 a-m local time, the same time the first
plane hit the World Trade Center towers, they will start reading aloud the
names of all who died in the attack.
They'll pause three times to mark when the second tower was hit and when
the buildings collapsed.
City officials say they're asking parents and grand parents to read the names
this year to "acknowledge their great sacrifice."
One parent who lost her son says there are still days when she can't function,
and that every day is harder than the one before.
New Yorkers remembering the attacks say it still seems strange that the
twin towers aren't there.
Raymond R. York spent nearly two decades fighting blazes
and loving the New York Fire Department when a shoulder
injury 18 months ago forced him into light duty. But he found
a second calling, teaching children about fire safety at the Fire
Zone at Rockefeller Center.
There, he was "Fireman Ray" to the youngsters whom he captivated.
But on Tuesday, he learned of the World Trade Center attack from a
television crew that was doing a story on the Fire Zone, jumped onto
a nearby fire truck and headed downtown. After traffic held him up,
he hitched a ride on an ambulance and reached the Fire Department's
command post at the trade center.
"We're so proud and we just want everybody to know what a great
guy Ray was," his wife, Joan, said. "Everybody's saying, 'He's a hero,
he's a hero.' He always was my hero. Now the world knows he's a hero."
She described her husband as a man in love with life, a man who
insisted on flying the flag. "He was a Little League coach, he was a scout l
leader when it came to his kids, he was there for everything," she said.
That included building an ice skating rink in the backyard of their Valley Stream
home when his son, one of four children, wanted to learn how to skate.
Raymond had this picture taken when he was with the N.Y.C. Housing Authority,
somehow he missed picture day when he entered the F.D.N.Y. So he gave them
this photo for their files.
Raymond always laughed and said" I got to get the photoupdated because Ritchie
if I die in line of duty you’re going to see a bad picture of me.
" Ray had worked 20 years with the F.D.N.Y. and filed papers to retire that month
he was to retire October,1st 01.Ray was my big brother, he was my best friend,
he was always there for me. I miss my brothers voice he loved to imitate
Sylvester Stallone, he loved to sing " New York ,New York" Only to him it was
Ray York, Ray York". I thought I would get to hear him sing that many times
more but instead I dream of him singing it. The last time I was with my brother as
we headed to our cars Ray followed me and I turned he hugged me and said
"I love you brother." I said I love you too Ray, and I'll never forget that day and
that ride home with a smile on my face.
My brother was a great husband to his wife Joan who is still suffering so, and Ray
was an awesome father the best a kid could want.
His 4 children miss him and remember him always.
I love you Ray you're with me always, I know you know that.
Brother Richie
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