Here & There Column 9-20-11

Complete Helplessness At 9-11 Site

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Ralph Bressler told those attending a 9-11 memorial service September 11 at the Golden Park Apartments complex in Liberty that almost three weeks after the attacks on the twin towers his ambulance crew was called to relieve the "overburdened New York City Emergency Medical Services.
" I remember ten years later exactly what I was doing and how I felt," Bressler noted.
As soon as he learned that a plane had hit the World Trade Center, "I set up an ambulance crew and called the Sullivan County EMS Coordinator to volunteer our services," and, "that we were ready to go tho NYC immediately."
He said that he remembered "having an overwhelming desire to go and help" but, "as the hours dragged on and two days passed it became obvious that there were few lives to save."
When they were called three weeks later they arrived in NYC at 12:01 a.m. on October 3 at the corner of West and Vessey Street where their job was to treat those working on "The Pile" for injuries and breathing problems.
"I will never forget the fires that were still burning after three weeks, the points of light indicating cutting torches being used to dismantle the steel, the smell of burning electronics, the site of empty offices open to the elements or the haze that hung over the rubble," Ralph said.
"I will always remember the feeling of complete helplessness," he added.
The Golden Parks 9-11 Memorial service was organized by Henrietta Phelps and included remarks made by Liberty Village Deputy Mayor Corinne McGuire, District 6 Legislator Jodi Goodman, members of the Liberty Village Police Department, Liberty resident Dan Ratner, singing of the song "Where Were You" by Paul and Valerie Minton and "God Bless America by Stephanie Watson.
Deputy Mayor McGuire urged the gathering to "never forget.....never forget that they made the ultimate sacrifice to protect each of us......never forget their courage, but mostly, never forget the American spirit which rose up from the ashes in New York City, Shanksville, Pa and Washington DC."
Legislator Goodman told of her experience that day while working at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris and the feeling she and fellow employees experienced when the hospital received the "Code Disaster" message.
Liberty United Methodist Church Pastor John A. Thomason led everyone in a closing prayer and the service ended with Liberty Central School Senior Nicole Snyder playing taps.
Additional photo coverage of this service is available at http://bght.blogspot.com/ and at http://edtownsendphotos.clarkcolor.com/clark and if asked insert the word ( photome ) as the privacy code.

PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

Emergency Medical Technician Ralph Bressler, left, was one of several speakers at the 9-11 memorial service Sunday evening at the Liberty Golden Hill Apartments complex. Looking on is the event organizer Henrietta Phelps.