Anger and prayers in the WTC remains

BY DOMENICA RAGUSA

When my husband and I heard about this week's discovery of at least a dozen human remains in the pit at Ground Zero, we were, at first, sick and angry. Our son Michael, a firefighter, was lost on Sept. 11. His remains, we have been told, would never be found. Then, after reassurance upon reassurance from the city and state that the recovery effort was complete, came this news. The incompetence would be funny if it weren't so infuriating.

No, we have no reason to believe our son was among those they just found - but of course we had a flash of hope. How could we not? This, of course, comes after families learned that remains were mixed with garbage at the Fresh Kills landfill; after the belated discovery of bone fragments on the roof of a nearby building and after misstatement upon misstatement by the authorities.

But there's a glimmer of hope in all this. Perhaps, just perhaps, the powers that be will see this as an opportunity to reconsider their horrendous recovery plans and this time truly honor the dead.

From the start, victims' families have pleaded with the city, the state and the Port Authority to call in an official, independent federal team to search Ground Zero and reconsider moving the remains from Fresh Kills to a proper site. They have replied with nothing but defensiveness and silence. It's not too late to do the right thing. I remember Mayor Bloomberg calling me and telling me how sorry he was about the loss of my son. He said, "I can't bring him back."

But respectfully, Mr. Mayor, I beg to differ. Aside from memories, remains are all many of us may ever have of those we loved. And the process of recovering those remains should be a serious, solemn and sacred one, not the cruel farce it has unfortunately become.

Ragusa's son Michael was the FDNY's last Sept. 11 fatality to be memorialized.

Originally published on October 21, 2006