Unity Rally - SuffolkJournal.com

Unity Rally for All --
Except Terrorists
by Jane Lee Bock

November 8, 2001

Suffolk County Executive Robert Gaffney and the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission hosted the fifth annual Unity Rally last night in Huntington. A tribute to the victims, survivors, and rescuers of the World Trade Center tragedy, the public event drew more than 400 people.

Gaffney said, "Equality, individual freedom, and human rights. That's what this is about. We are not a country defined by geographical borders. We are an idea. We are a concept that has been defined by people like Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King. When America is threatened, that's what's being threatened."

In past years the rally generally celebrated the multi-cultural aspects of the Suffolk community with a particular emphasis on acceptance of non-white ethnicities. This year there was clearly one society that nobody wanted to welcome - the society of terrorists who crashed two planes into the World Trade Center on
September 11, 2001 and killed more than 5,000 people.

Although all the great religions and ethnic groups of the region were represented at the event, none spoke forgivingly about terrorists. The Islamic representative, Chaplain Sanaa Nadim of the Interfaith Center at SUNY Stony Brook in particular, made sure that the people gathered that night understood that her religious community is deeply offended by the terrorist acts, and recognizes a need to promote harmony, unity, and understanding among the various cultures that are the essence of our democratic system.

Nadim said, "It was an attack on humanity as a whole. It was an attack on Islam. It was an attack on civilization, and we are calling for justice and we are calling for accountability. We can keep the voices of those who were silenced on September 11 alive in our unity, in our working for peace together. Their legacy will live on in our working together for peace and justice."

Yvonne Pena, director of Suffolk County's Human Rights Commission said, "Something else happened that day too. People from many different places and backgrounds became one. We give thanks for all of these special people and the thanks comes from the same place in all of us. It comes from our hearts."

Speaking of the rescuers in his prayer of thanks and remembrance, Pastor Richard Hills of Hope Lutheran Church stated, "They acted in love. They reached out to people regardless of their race or color, their gender or their native tongues, their religious beliefs or their ethnic heritage."

Special guest speaker Lt. Kevin Tully of the 15th Division in Brooklyn gave the audience a first-hand account of the day from a firefighter's point of view. He spoke of friends who rushed to the scene never to return. He spoke of people like Pete Deerfield who went to ladder 10, which is not his firehouse, to put on borrowed fire equipment and clothing in order to get to the scene faster. Because nobody was there to acknowledge that he took the equipment, he left a note behind. It said his name was Pete Deerfield from Ladder 42, "Tell my wife I love her." Deerfield was last scene going up the stairs in the north tower.

"We still hope to find them and bring them home to their families," said Tully of his brothers who are still missing.

Lt. Kenneth Dolan, retired New York City Fireman and President of the Suffolk County Association of Retired Firefighters spoke in part about what compels firefighters to risk their lives by running into burning buildings to save the lives of complete strangers. Based on his experience, he said, they look beyond what they
see.

"Those great towers contained people from every corner of the globe who needed their help," he said. "They acted as one without regard to race, religion or background. They were likened to the Good Shepherd of the Bible. They would not abandon their flock. They would search until every last sheep was safely out of harm's way."

In the ensuing days, fire companies from all across Long Island and upstate brought their equipment to the scene, and for that the New York City firefighters are grateful. Dolan recalled an experience of Ret. Chief Tony Bruno who photographed an eerie section of Ground Zero only days after the tragedy occurred. He had come upon a site shrouded by a haze of smoke and surrounded by hanging debris. In it was a section of fallen steel in the shape of a cross. That photo has since become an inspirational card which brings hope to his fellow firefighters that they will find those still missing.

"As time passes, I can't help but notice there is a sense of coming together. We must all take hold of this opportunity and build a lasting bond of unity for all of our people," he said.