Re: [Paddlewise] recognition

>
> Ralph, right after 9-11 you posted regarding some of the firemen that you
> had taken out on the water in the past.  There was one in particular that
> was your contact person (sorry, the name is escaping me at the moment).
> I've been wondering - was he on duty that day, and did he survive the
> collapse of the buildings?  Sorry of this is a tactless question.

He, Patrick Sherry, was not on the list of the 343 firemen who perished in
the collapse of the the Twin Towers.  But his firehouse lost about 8-10 men
including a battalion chief and several lieutenants.  I have visited
several firehouses and a very moving memorial for a fireman from one near my
post office(my note is below.)  But I never had the heart to visit Patrick's
firehouse across town and look at the photos of those who died from there
(and anyway I was pretty crippled for the first two weeks from a fall to get
over to it).  The firehouses in the city are memorial shrines.
On Monday, the tv series Third Watch caught the spirit of them.

ralph diaz

Notes from a firefighter memorial service, Oct. 4, 2001:

Ruben "Dave" Correa of Engine 74 of the Upper Westside.  Their shoulder
patch logo has the dinosaur from Jurassic Park and the line " The Lost
World."  He was 44, with three daughters ranging from what looked like 10 to
about 20.  He was a Marine, testified to by the Marine honor guard that led
the pump truck carrying his jacket and heaped with flowers.  He was also
holding a second job at the large Jewish synagogue just a block or so
from the firehouse as a security officer.

I arrived at the firehouse and the sidewalk across from me was lined with
postal workers at attention (little did they know they soon would be in this
war).  Limosines, the pump engine truck, a handful of bag pipers (there are
so many funerals that their ranks are spread thin).  The memorial march
formed up.  About 50 firemen, his family, members of the Jewish community,
school kids and kindergarten tykes.  As the pipers played the Minstrel Boy
the group marched.  I held back and did not join their ranks but followed
along the sidewalk.  People joined in.  Then more and more firemen coming
from everywhere as if on duty and more fire alarms had been rung.  The
church, Holy Trinity, was around the corner.  As the parade turned the
corner, I could see wall to wall firemen and cops at attention.  More and
more firemen swelled the ranks of those marching.

One fireman carried Correa's helmet, another his dress cap.

I wasn't certain I woud enter the church.  I am a catholic but have not been
to church in a million years.  But I did and went up to the balcony.  A
great vantage place from which to see it all laid out before me.  An army
of firemen, family and worshipers below, the 4 vault ceiling rising to the
heavens above.  I stood in a corner part of the balcony that gave me that
commanding view.

A couple of more things:

-- An elderly woman stood next to me.  As the service moved on at a slow
heartfelt pace, she shoved her sunglasses and program into my hands.  I saw
that she was trying to take off a heavy plaid jacket and I offered to also
hold her purse.  She took off the jacket and seemed dazed.  I put her purse
etc. in front of her against the railing.  A few seconds later she began to
faint.  I caught her and fell on my knees bearing her weight in a controlled
fall.  She seemed unconscious.  I knew there were firemen all around and
didn't even go through my mental list of first aid steps.  They stepped in.
But she was okay.  They carried her out.

--The pastor in his talk brought up the horror in 1937 of the bombing of
Guernica and Picasso' painting.  He pointed out that amid the scenes of
horrified, tortured faces, off in the corner a flower is beginning to bloom,
representing hope.  Unusual to hear a Catholic priest refer to Picasso.

--A Marine officer brought a folded American flag to give to the family.
He moved in that slow, precise step, so somber, so full of respect and
dignity.

--As the procession returned to the street after the service, I was in a
perfect position to see FDNY high command present the family with Correa's
helmet and dress hat.  Then a whisk of the beginning of the Star Spangled
Banner began to be sung by a small choir on the street.  I sang my heart out
through tears and a choked up voice.  I never heard or participated in a
more moving singing of the national anthem.  Here indeed was a fallen
American hero, who died for his fellow man.  Greater love hath no man than
...

Then the bag pipers led the procession down the street playing Amazing Grace
and the Marine Corp hymn.

I was deeply moved and privileged to be part of it all.

--
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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