Remembering 9/11

Through all of the 9/11 stories that we profiled over the course of the past two weeks it was clear that through all the loss, the pain, the uncertainty, and the chaos, that while all hearts were down at the World Trade Center, all eyes were on the George Washington Bridge – an iconic symbol of America.  

Long referred to as the jewel in the Port Authority's crown, just about all of Bergen County’s emergency services were focused on protecting the great gray George Washington Bridge on 9/11. Police Chief of New Milford, and executive officer of Bergen County’s Rapid Deployment Unit on 9/11, Frank Papapietro said, “There was the commitment of all law enforcement and agencies of government that at all costs the bridge would be protected.” 

And it’s that same message we heard from the Port Authority's head of Bridge Operations, to the Chief of Police, to the Mayor, to the Fire Chief, to the Sherrif's Officer, to the guys who drove the firetrucks across the bridge: the George Washington Bridge was the focal point of intense security on 9/11 and the days that followed. 

So, it is only fitting that we tie all of those stories together by honoring the character central to those narratives—the George Washington Bridge. 

Even if you had never been to the World Trade Center, if you live in Bergen County, or New Jersey for that matter, it's very likely that you have been on the George Washington Bridge. 

For all of us who live here, the bridge is a permanent fixture on our horizon; an anchor to our skyline view of Manhattan. 

For those of us who grew up near the George Washington Bridge, it was a symbol of freedom in a very real way--crossing to the other side was not only a right of passage, but a measure of our freedom. The scale that tipped the balance between childhood and adulthood. For those of us who dreamed of escaping, the George Washington Bridge was the gateway to all possibility.

In every story we listened to, the bridge played a central role in the lives of those being profiled. Steve Napolitano, former General Manager of the George Washington Bridge on 9/11 remembers piling his friends into his car and beating the tolls to New York; retired Sheriff’s officer, Joe Viola and retired FDNY Louie Sarapochillo remember playing as kids at the base of the bridge; Ron Viola remembers going to the cliffs and staring at the bridge whenever he needed to think things out. 

Even yesterday, during Fort Lee’s 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in Constitution Park, many of the distinguished speakers extolled the symbolic importance of the George Washington Bridge and reminded the audience just how many resources were employed on 9/11 to secure it.

In a fitting tribute to all that Fort Lee provided on 9/11, Robert Durando, current General Manager of the George Washington Bridge, said, “We call the towns that house our property ‘host towns,’ but Fort Lee is so much more than that.” 

Yes, we are.