The Jersey Journal
HUDSON COUNTY, N.J. — Sept. 11, 2001 will always be recalled as a day of unspeakable horror. But the bravery and kindness of firefighters, ferryboat operators, paramedics and countless others that day also displayed this nation at its best.
In that spirit, President Barack Obama signed federal legislation on April 21 to make Sept. 11 a “National Day of Service and Remembrance,” asking everyone to do a good deed, including contribute $9.11 or more to a favorite charity.
Several Hudson County survivors of 9/11, and family members of 9/11 victims, agreed this week that the Day of Service is an appropriate way to commemorate the tragedy.
“That is a good gesture for people to go and help out others,” said Jersey City resident Kevin Rogers, who turned 49 yesterday. “Everybody could use a little hand.”
Eight years ago, Rogers, a caterer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was on the 44th floor of Tower 1 when the first terrorist plane struck. When he reached street level, he ran down Broadway to avoid being crushed by the collapsing Tower 2.
“When that happened that day everybody came together,” Rogers said. “It’s like it fell off a little bit.”
Kathy Rohner, of River Edge, supports the president’s initiative. The day of the attacks, Rohner lost her 22-year-old son, Scott, a Hoboken resident and Cantor Fitzgerald employee.
“I think the initiative is excellent,” Rohner said. “This is something we as a family already do, but we will find something new to do to help others on that specific day each year.”
Joan Allman, of Hoboken, was inside her Morgan Stanley office on the 72nd floor of Tower 2, when the first plane struck. Other Morgan Stanley employees who lived to tell the tale of surviving that day have a lunch planned for today in Manhattan, she said.
Still working in the financial industry, Allman now volunteers as a member of the board of the Mustard Seed School in Hoboken.
“I think for those who don’t take the time, or have the time to volunteer, I think it is a good thing,” Allman said about the Day of Service.
“It really reminds us that some people on Sept. 11, and I’m thinking about the 300-plus firefighters who died, made the ultimate sacrifice to help others in need.”
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