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BITS AND PIECES - 09/14/2008
(by Howard Ball - OpEd Columnist - September 17, 2008)
9/11 bits
It is hard to believe that seven years have passed since evil men murdered American citizens. When I think of that day, I recall how I felt when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. I remember the day when I was working at Singer's Department Store and we heard on radio that an airplane had crashed into the Empire State Building. That was an accident. Was this some terrible replay? Then the second plane struck and it was evident that America was under attack.
As the news filtered in, I asked to be excused from my work at WGHT and began to make rounds of the fire stations. At Pompton Lakes I encountered a firefighter who tearfully said they could not go to Ground Zero. They were on hold. I assured him they were needed in the area and said a prayer for their safety.
As I traveled from town to town I listened to the news reports on WGHT. One report used the named of Father Mychal Judge. I strained to hear what it was about and then the announcer said that Mike had been killed while administering last rites. I pulled over a moment and wept. Mike Judge, former pastor of St. Joseph's in West Milford, had been a breakfast companion along with my best friend Frank Newton. I said a prayer and drove to First Assembly of God where I opened the doors.
I have seen a documentary film of the Trade Center tragedy. In that film the firefighters are shown carrying Mike from the scene to place him on the altar of a nearby church. He was a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. A devoted Christian and a dear friend.
Father Mychal F. Judge, O.F.M., Born May 11, 1933,Ordained February 25, 1961
Died September 11, 2001 Here is Mike's favorite prayer:
Lord make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness joy.
Oh Divine Master grant that I may
Not so much seek consolation as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
It is pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life
St. Francis of Assisi
We will never forget. God Bless our men and women in harm's way around the world. May we provide for the families of the men and women murdered on that day. May we be thankful for the first responders who went in to help others get out. God Bless 3000 New Jersey Soldiers in Iraq. God Bless America.
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