The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 changed ythingever

2001 TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY The day that changed a city and the world

Nearly 20 years later, those who remember look back at 9/11

by Michael Gannon few bone fragments or remnants of her brother’s Editor turnout gear. S eptember will mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Like many people who will commemorate the anniversary, the “We were lucky,” Brengel told the Chronicle in an interview. “We held a memorial service. And then when they found him we were 9-11 Candlelight Vigil Committee of Queens is able to have a funeral.” planning a few special features for its annual Her oldest brother is more than just a phoceremony in Juniper Valley Park. tograph or old news clippings to Brengel’s

Frank De Biase of Middle Village, now presi- children. dent of the group, remembers visiting the first “They never met their uncle, but they all observance as if it was yesterday. know him,” she said. “Ask them and they’ll

“It was a few days after the attack,” he told talk about him like they saw him last week.” the Chronicle. “Someone hired a DJ. We lis- Brengel said the FDNY still takes care of tened to music and said prayers. Then at some the families. point we all turned — you could still see “It’s easier for us because my brother is servsmoke coming from the site.” ing,” she said. “Firefighting is in your blood ...

The world changed drastically in the My father and brothers never felt like they’re aftermath. going to work. You’re just leaving one family for

Passenger jets to and from JFK, LaGuardia The annual 9/11 memorial ceremony in Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village is traditionally the your other family.” and all other airports have been modified to largest one in the city outside of Manhattan. FILE PHOTO BY STEVE FISHER And she was never surprised that even in the make their cockpits unassailable. It is not immediate aftermath of losing 343 members, the uncommon to see heavily armed police and they’re going,” Concannon said. nology-based,” he said. FDNY has never had a problem finding people National Guard troops at large gatherings or His own tour of all the schools, churches, Intelligence, he said, could be precinct com- who want to pick up the mantle and serve. transportation hubs. Training and equipment for libraries and other polling sites began in the manders comparing notes to find patterns, tech- “I work at an ice rink, and the other day I first responders have evolved. middle of the command and worked outward in nological wizardry or even a foot-patrol officer heard a boy, a hockey player, talking about how

The Juniper Park gathering became the larg- small circles. contributing a casual observation that turned out he couldn’t wait until he was eligible to take the est in the city outside of Manhattan. He hadn’t gotten far before he was coming to to be a huge missing piece in something. [FDNY] test,” she said.

And New York City now has its first genera- back up officers being confronted by an elected “Intelligence-based policing and technology She gave him the same advice she would tion of adults who were not alive to have memo- official who was practically wallpapering the are going to propel the NYPD into the next mil- offer any young man or woman whose heart is ries of the two mammoth towers school and even its flag pole with lennium,” Concannon said. set on becoming one of New York’s Bravest. that for decades commanded the posters in blatant violation of elec- One tragic problem on Sept. 11 was that in “Take the test!” she said. “And if you don’t New York City skyline. tion laws. many cases it was difficult, if not impossible, make it the first time, take it again.”

Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz “I was telling him, ‘You know for emergency personnel inside the WTC to De Biase was in his final year as a captain (D-Forest Hills) is just over a year better than that,’” ordering his men know what was going on outside of their field with the Department of Correction, and he like away from being term-limited out to tear down every single one — of vision. others was stationed at Ground Zero for five of office for the second time. On and waving off the officer who had Such may have been the case with mem- months. He lost friends. Sept. 11, 2001, she had 16 weeks been assigned as his driver that day bers of FDNY Squad 288 and Hazmat 1, both But upon retirement he took up teaching at remaining in her first tour. and who had been trying to get his stationed on 68th Street in Maspeth. Sum- Christ the King High School, where he made

“I was standing outside of Rus- attention for a several minutes. moned to Manhattan along with scores of sure to teach about that day that changed the sell Sage [JHS 190],” she said. “Suddenly he shouted out ‘Joe! other units throughout the city, they were con- world. And he still does, having already passed “Someone came out and said, FF Jonathan Ielpi Get over here!’” Concannon said. ducting rescue operations when the South the baton to new generations. ‘They bombed the World Trade FILE PHOTO COURTESY FDNY “We never use first names on the Tower fell, killing 19 of them. “Now some of the kids I taught are teachers,” Center.’ I said, ‘No, no, that can’t street. I knew if he was doing that, It would be the largest loss of life at a single he said. “They call me up and ask if I’ll speak at be!’ Sure enough, it was true. I went home and it was something serious.” firehouse on a day that saw 343 firefighters and their schools ...” Q I don’t think we shut our television off for days. Back at the borough command, police tried to 60 police officers listed I just watched in disbelief.” sort out what was coming from Downtown. The among the more than 3,000

Kozlowitz believes city government has taken impression was that a Piper Cub with an inexpe- who died. the proper steps. Returning to the Council again rienced or unfortunate pilot had struck the North And for all that has in January 2014, she said she did not feel that Tower. changed singe 9/11, Melissa there was anything it had left out of its response; “When they slowed it down on television, we Brengel says firefighters, in nothing that required to her to introduce legisla- started saying, ‘That’s no Piper.’ Then the sec- the most important ways, tion to address anything she thought might have ond plane hit ... ” have not. been neglected. The towers had fallen by the time Concannon She would know.

She still does have some general concerns. was ordered to fill buses and secure the northern Her brother, Jonathan Ielpi

“As time goes on, I don’t think we’re as perimeter, allowing no one south of Canal of Squad 288, was 29 when he guarded as we were the first five or six years,” Street. It was when his officers disembarked at died while charging up a she said. “We need to strive to not forget, to the Javits Center that he noticed it. stairwell. keep what happened in people’s minds. It has to “There were people standing 20 or 30 deep, His father, Lee, is a retired be passed on to future generations by those who cheering us, holding posters, waving flags,” he firefighter. His brother, Brenwitnessed it.” said. “And remember, we’re not exactly the dan, was in the academy at

Queens resident Joe Concannon had reported beloved NYPD. It was overwhelming.” the time and now serves with to work early on Sept. 11 — really early. It was And since then? Concannon said he has no his father’s old unit, Brookan election primary day, and the now retired firsthand knowledge of the ever-evolving lyn’s elite Rescue 2. NYPD police captain was in charge of poll secu- training methods now being taught at the It would be three months rity for Manhattan North. Police Academy, but he said the changes with- before Jonathan’s body was

“The polls open at 6 a.m., so I’m there at 4, in the NYPD after 9/11 have made a great recovered. Unlike most famimaking sure all the cops are there, that they department even better. lies, they did not have to con- The Maspeth 19 still accompany their brethren on every run know their assignments, that they know where “The training is intelligence-based and tech- sole themselves with finding a from the firehouse on 68th Street. FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL GANNON