Chess For Teachers

Maspeth – A Small Town View of 9/11

On September 11, 2001 the Maspeth Firehouse sent their trucks, men and Hazmat team racing on to the LIE to the World Trade Center.  We lost nineteen men that day more men than any other firehouse.  In the aftermath of the attack we held a candlelight vigil at our firehouse to honor those who had lost their lives in the service of our city and nation as well as all the innocent victims of this horrific tragedy.

Maspeth also lost several residents at the World Trade Center.  Ten years have passed – some wounds have healed but for many there are scars and losses that may never be reconciled. 

Today Maspeth is much as it was before 9/11.  Our firehouse is in good working order with a full crew.  Shoppers on Grand Ave hunt for parking spaces – residents commute back and forth to Manhattan – children go to libraries and schools.  And there is a new public school on Grand Avenue

P S 58 – The School Of Heroes.                                                       Hero is a word that has become more frequently used since 9/11.

There is a small square next to our firehouse with a flagpole and a bronze plaque memorial honoring those from Maspeth who lost their lives on 9/11.  

On that square there is also a coral granite bench that was a gift from the people of Lakewood Colorado who reached out to our community in the face of our tragedy. 

Views of Manhattan’s skyline that can be seen from Maspeth’s hills and plateaus, so residents have a constant reminder that something was taken away from their cityscape view.  There are also some new street signs like Cono E. Gallo Place and Jennifer Mazzotta Way that honor residents lost in the tragedy.  

There are millions of images, movies and videos of the Twin Towers to remind us of them.  And if anything has changed – it is that we now have a flood of memories of coming together to help each other rebuild with schools and memorials so that we will never forget our goodness and greatness.  Maspeth is just one little community but there are thousands like it across America.