Sunday, September 10, 2006
Five years ago tonight....
....Joseph Angelini Sr. was among many that had no idea it would be their last. Mr. Angelini was by all accounts a dedicated public servant and family man. Perhaps a nice dinner with family and friends was the order of the day or maybe a good nights rest before the busy day ahead.
I had the pleasure and honor of meeting and riding with Joe Angelini Sr. on R-1 a few years back. When my children ask about the bracelet I now wear(and will never take off), I will tell them about one of NYFD's best. I know I will meet Joe Sr. in a better life later and I will still have on the bracelet I wear in his honor and of all the 343 brothers that did their job that morning.
Mark Casey (Kennedy Space Center Fire Department, FL )
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I am truly blessed to be a friend of Mary Angelini, the daughter of Joe Angelini Sr. and the sister of Joe Angelini Jr. I don't even know where to begin in trying to extend my sincerest condolences to her and her family. The Angelini’s are an amazing family. They are all civil servants, doing their part in making the world a better place to live. Mary gets her inner strength and values from her supportive family. It is clear that she has always been inspired by her kin to make a difference in this conflicted civilization. Mary has been working for a non-governmental agency in Abuja, Africa promoting democracy. The loss of her father and brother has only fortified her convictions; she is a true testament to the resilience of the human spirit. She has since returned to Africa and is continuing to follow her passion, international diplomacy. Both Joseph Angelini’s were made up of the same beliefs and fervor. They were family men who died as brave heroes for their country.
We owe our respect to all the Firemen and Policemen of New York City. May God bless you all for your courage. The world will always honor you and will never forget your heroism. My heart goes out to all the families who have suffered as a result of 9/11. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
All my love, Marilyn
“...I ride as a guardian of the night, toward the far away glow
Of my destiny, dauntless, duty bound,
Endeavoring to a life fully-lived within the grasp of mortality.
And when my watch is over; when my tour is ended
And I am finally called home
To the embrace of my gentle guardian, I will ride again.
Racing through the heavens, oh so swiftly
For I will ride there in glory,
With angels’ escort, aboard a screaming red chariot of honor.”
- Lt. Robert E. Higgins, FDNY
P.S. I'll never forget the time Mary's father drove her home in his fire truck and helped her get into our apartment on 88th Street when she was locked out. :) He was such a dedicated loving father and grandfather. Mary was one of many children in her family who was the apple of his eye. He loves you all so much. May he rest in peace...
Marilyn H (San Francisco, CA )
Those are some excerpts from the Joseph J. Angelini Sr. guest book at legacy.com. From the September 11th victims tribute page.
I too live in Lindenhurst. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of Joe and his son. Whenever I ride on Angelini Way they are brought back to mind and I whisper a prayer for their families. The community will never forget their sacrifice.
Reading through these tributes it becomes strikingly apparent that America lost a fine man on September 11, 2001. The reality is that we lost many fine and courageous people that day. Joseph J. Angelini Sr., you are missed by many that you knew well and by others you never met and that never had the pleasure of meeting you. Firefighter Joseph Angelini Sr. of Rescue 1 was laid to rest on September 22, 2001. One month later he was joined by his son, Joseph Angelini Jr. of Ladder 4. Join me in saying a prayer tomorrow for the Angelini family as well as all the other victims.
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To read about others who were taken from us on September 11, 2001, click the title of this post to open a list in another window or click here to leave this page and view the list of blogs that have joined this project.
UPDATE 9/11/2010 The full tribute page has moved here
