Today's NY Times (10-31-01) has an article in the Workplace section featuring our own Paul Amico. If you don't know who Paul is, he is a kayaker who often paddles out of the Downtown Boathouse as well as being a very dependable kayak escort for the swim events. Paul runs a dock construction business. He has, as a volunteer, worked on the docks for both the DTBH and for the Yonkers Paddle & Rowing Club (He won this year's kayak race up there). On the day of the events of 9-11 he sprang into action to help the ferries evacuating people from the WTC to first the seawall then Pier 26 when the regular ferry terminal next to the North Cove had to be abandoned. His kayaking knowledge of the Boathouse's pier let him know it would serve as an emergency ferry slip. He had a key to the Boathouse and knew of the acetylene torch there (he has used it before) and used it to open up the pier fence to let people get on to the NY Waterways ferries being used for the emergency. The article describes what he did and then leads into what others did that the day under the article's title, Everyday People, Extraordinary Day. Paul is in the article's photo. It is good seeing a great, humble guy get recognized for doing something that seems so extraordinary but that his friends know is just Paul's normal, helpful, resourceful character. Here is the article URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/31/business/31HERO.html?searchpv=nytToday ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> > 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. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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