'It's going to be a tough day to get through' - Families honor loved ones on 9/11

Record ID: 1841416

  • Title: 'It's going to be a tough day to get through' - Families honor loved ones on 9/11
  • Date: 11th September 2024
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 11, 2024) (REUTERS) ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER / STREET WITH BARRICADES SIGN READING (English): "FAMILY ENTRY ONLY" (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROB FAZIO, WHO LOST HIS FATHER, RONALD CARL FAZIO, SR. DURING THE 9/11 ATTACKS, SAYING: "We try to make it very positive - remembering my dad in all the things in the way he lived his life and we like our kids to enjoy New York City and know what New York City is about - being strong and community and loving one another." (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMILY TORO, WHO LOST HER SON, ISAAC CORTES, KILLED IN IRAQ IN 2007, SAYING: "This is my son, Isaac. He joined after 9/11. I guess he just wanted to make his mark in life and also to give a better life to his daughter. Sad part is, he was only in the military eight months, he was in Iraq eight weeks, so 10 months and that was it. But I come here every year not only to not let people forget the costs of freedom and why these men joined because of what happened here. And also to be with the other family members and let them know they're not alone in their pain. It's hard. It's something you got to do." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SGT. EDWIN MORALES, WHO LOST HIS COUSIN, RUBEN DAVID CORREA, DURING THE 9/11 ATTACKS, SAYING: "My cousin Ruben died on 9/11 at the Marriott. He was never found. He is still here in Ground Zero. So this day, I come to pay my respects, but I pay my respects to him every day, not just for today. 9/11 for us is every day. It's not just on 9/11. And Jimmy, Jimmy Lanza, firefighter, he saved people that day on 9/11. He retired. And then 15 years later, he got the cancer and that took him away from us. Another hero. And to this day, like I say, people are still dying of 9/11 because of that illness." FAZIO'S CHILDREN, REESE AND RAE / FAZIO (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROB FAZIO, WHO LOST HIS FATHER, RONALD CARL FAZIO, SR. DURING THE 9/11 ATTACKS, SAYING: "My dad was great. He worked at Aon where he was on the 99th floor, and he was actually seen holding a door and helping people. So we named an organization called Hold the Door for Others in his honor for how he helps people. And his favorite candy was Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, this is Reese and Rae and Reese is named after her grandpa's favorite candy." (SOUNDBITE) (English) EMILY TORO, WHO LOST HER SON, ISAAC CORTES, KILLED IN IRAQ IN 2007, SAYING: "Seems like yesterday. You will always remember where you were. I was on my way to the doctor when that happened and I lived in Queens, so I was stuck in Queens because there was no way to get out of there. And it took me a long time before I came down here, actually, six years. And I said, 'I think it's time that I should come down here and pay my respects,' but it's hard." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROB FAZIO, WHO LOST HIS FATHER, RONALD CARL FAZIO, SR. DURING THE 9/11 ATTACKS, SAYING: "I was in Richmond, Virginia, about 6 hours away and everything was shut down, so I couldn't get home for a couple of days. And then we got home, we walked the streets of New York City and we're looking for my dad and didn't find him, but we found a tremendous story that we're proud of." FAZIO AND HIS CHILDREN WALKING AWAY PERSON HOLDING UP PICTURES OF RUBEN "DAVE" CORREA AND JAMES LANZA (SOUNDBITE) (English) SGT. EDWIN MORALES, WHO LOST HIS COUSIN, RUBEN DAVID CORREA, DURING THE 9/11 ATTACKS, SAYING: "9/11's every day for us. It's just another year that - my life is going to be soon going - so who's going to take over? So we have to get the young generation to take over because a lot of us, we're going to be gone soon. In another 20 to 30 years, some of us are not going to be here. So we need the young generation to take over to learn about 9/11, even though they were not born, they need to know what will happen on 9/11 and continue with that, that it will never, ever happen again and that we will never, ever forget these heroes." PERSON HOLDING UP PICTURES OF RUBEN "DAVE" CORREA AND JAMES LANZA (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTIE SEYGLINSKI, 9/11 MEMORIAL VOLUNTEER, SAYING: "I met so many wonderful people like Edwin, who lost his cousin Ruben. So every year I come to the memorial here for every anniversary to honor Ruben Correa. Ruben was a firefighter in the Marriott, and when the South Tower collapsed, he unfortunately lost his life. And so we come every year to remember him, but everyone who lost their lives that day." SEYGLINSKI HOLDING UP FRAMED PICTURES OF RUBEN "DAVE" CORREA (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRISTIE SEYGLINSKI, 9/11 MEMORIAL VOLUNTEER, SAYING: "I was actually in my second grade classroom when it happened, but I remember that day so clearly and student after student was going home, my classmates lost their parents, my friends lost their family, and it was just a really, really horrible day. That being said, we come every year to remember everyone and it still takes its toll on you, of course, it's a hard day. It's going to be a tough day to get through. But we have our family here. We've become a family over the years through just remembering and honoring everyone who we lost and I couldn't be more honored to be here today to remember them." SIGN READING (English): "FAMILY ENTRY ONLY" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ENTERING FAMILY ENTRANCE VARIOUS OF NYPD COUNTERTERRORISM OFFICERS VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER U.S. FLAG STREET / ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND U.S. FLAG
  • Embargoed: 25th September 2024 13:59
  • Keywords: 9/11 September 11 World Trade Center attacks
  • Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Bombing (non-military),Conflicts/War/Peace,North America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001335311092024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: On Wednesday (September 11), the streets around the One World Trade Center in New York City were barricaded, with signs restricting entry to families only, as the city marked the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
    Among those present were Rob Fazio, who lost his father, Ronald Carl Fazio Sr., in the attacks. Fazio spoke about the importance of strength and community in New York City, and how his family strives to remember his father through positive memories.
    "My dad was great," Fazio said. "He worked at Aon where he was on the 99th floor, and he was actually seen holding a door and helping people. So we named an organization called Hold the Door for Others in his honor for how he helps people."
    Emily Toro, whose son Isaac Cortes was killed in Iraq in 2007 after he joined the military following the 9/11 attacks, also attended. Toro spoke about the cost of freedom, and the pain of losing a child. "It's hard," she said. "It's something you got to do."
    Sgt. Edwin Morales, who lost his cousin Ruben David Correa in the attacks, was also there to pay his respects. "9/11's every day for us," Morales said. "So we need the young generation to take over to learn about 9/11, even though they were not born, they need to know what will happen on 9/11 and continue with that, that it will never, ever happen again and that we will never, ever forget these heroes."
    Christie Seyglinski, a 9/11 Memorial & Museum volunteer, emphasized the importance of remembering those who lost their lives. "I come every year to the memorial here for every anniversary to honor Ruben Correa," Seyglinski said. "Ruben was a firefighter in the Marriott, and when the South Tower collapsed, he unfortunately lost his life. And so we come every year to remember him, but everyone who lost their lives that day."
    The U.S. flag was seen fluttering against the backdrop of the One World Trade Center, a solemn symbol of remembrance for those lost on that tragic day.
    Nearly 3,000 people were killed, including more than 2,600 at the World Trade Center, 125 at the Pentagon, and 265 on the four planes, on Sept. 11, 2001, when commercial airliners crashed into the New York World Trade Center Twin Towers, the Pentagon and, after passengers mounted a counterattack, a Pennsylvania field.
    (Production: Aleksandra Michalska, Roselle Chen)
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