Shortly after Judge Oshrin became District Administrative Judge, I told him of the warm feelings I hold for the people here, and of my many great visits with the courts and lawyers of Suffolk County. And I got so carried away that, right then and there, I extended an invitation to myself to come again. I must admit, I never thought I'd be giving a keynote speech, or participating in this beautiful ceremony. I am honored simply to be here among you, and I am deeply moved to be part of this ceremony. I thank each and every one of you who had a hand in proposing, planning or presenting this magnificent tribute.
Just last week my husband and I went to dinner at a Chinese restaurant in our neighborhood, and my fortune cookie had this extraordinary message: "Your healing words will mend many hearts." Immediately, of course, I thought that was a good omen for me as I sat down to prepare these remarks. Would that I had healing words—I surely would give them to you! But having searched in vain for healing words to mend the hearts of my court family these past seven months, I am now convinced that there are no words, that the most we can do is to come together as we do today, to remember and recognize those who gave and risked their lives to protect our lives and the life of this great nation.
I was thinking, as I looked at the papers and TV news even this morning, how a full seven months later September 11 is still so close for each of us: Portraits of Grief and the search for remains at Ground Zero continue, alongside new stories of fire safety tests and environmental concerns, stepped-up airport security measures, stories of survivor groups and plans for redevelopment of the site, conflicting opinions over the towers of light that illuminate and dominate the lower Manhattan skyline.
Who can ever forget where they were, what they were doing, at 8:46 a.m. on September 11? September 11, 2001—another day that will forever live in infamy. There are so many hair-raising stories—like the business executive who decided to take his son to his first day of kindergarten that morning instead of going right to work. And the fellow who stopped to have his eyeglasses fixed instead of going straight to his office near the top of the World Trade Center. And the woman serving at 80 Centre Street in Manhattan as a grand juror who otherwise would have been at her desk on the 90th floor. Every story like that, of a life saved or a life lost by some mysterious twist of fate, reminds us all of how precious, and fragile, our lives are.
For each of us, the subject of September 11 is intensely personal. We all grieve with the families of Captain William Harry Thompson, Senior Court Officer Thomas Jurgens and Senior Court Officer Mitchel Wallace—Harry, Tommy and Mitch—three court officers who, along with 23 of their valiant court officer colleagues, joined the remarkably selfless rescue workers who on September 11 rushed into burning buildings at the World Trade Center.
We grieve with all the members of our court family who lost spouses, children, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews—firefighters, police officers, World Trade Center employees, investment bankers, lawyers, people from every walk of life. We grieve with our Suffolk County court family members who lost loved ones—a firefighter-brother; a bond trader son; a niece who worked as a secretary; a cousin employed by the Port Authority.
Our personal sadness is very deep. Our hearts are broken, because we are, loving caring human beings. But our spirit is not, it cannot be, broken.
What strikes me is that on September 11 the very worst of humanity came face to face with the very best of humanity. We surely have seen both—beginning with the hideous acts committed by the very worst of humanity, inflicting so much pain on innocent people and their families.
As Chief Judge, when I speak of the very best of humanity, I have in mind the people who, despite personal dislocation and devastation, nonetheless came to do their jobs so that the New York State courts could continue to function. As court administrators, we resolved on September 11 that we would have the courts of the State of New York, including those in lower Manhattan, functioning at full strength as quickly and smoothly as possible. The courts, after all, provide an essential service to the public. And we also want the terrorists to know that they cannot defeat us or what we stand for. They cannot undermine our way of life or our values, most especially our fundamental ideal of equal justice.
To reach that administrative decision was one thing. To make it happen was quite another. And I thank every one of you for your part in the extraordinary performance of the New York State courts, barely missing a beat in their service to the public and to our constitutional ideals.
When I speak of the very best of humanity, I include our court officers who rushed to the World Trade Center site that fateful morning, and I include the many court officers and others who worked at Ground Zero during the rescue and recovery period. When I speak of the very best of humanity, I include those among us who would have gone to Ground Zero if they could, and those who found other ways to help like giving blood, making donations, or comforting, supporting and helping one another through this difficult time.
When I speak of the very best of humanity, I include another group of quiet heroes in our court family—and they are also here today. They are the people who went to Ground Zero on their own time to help out—with search and rescue, on the bucket brigade, constructing barricades and temporary services areas, unloading supplies, helping with the flow of people and traffic, whatever they could. And they are finally, humbly and reluctantly, allowing us also to honor them today.
Surely your efforts follow the tradition of volunteering here in Suffolk County that Judge Oshrin spoke about a few minutes ago. But this was different. You traveled into Manhattan on your own time and helped under extremely stressful circumstances during a period when we were still asking questions like, Who are the perpetrators? Is there more to come? How will we respond as a nation? I applaud you and thank you on behalf of the entire court system.
For many weeks and months, at some point I have been reduced to tears, not only by the grief that has been visited on wonderful people, but also by the incredible kindness of people around the world and in our own court family. We will never forget the evil acts of the worst of humanity and we will never forget the glorious acts of the best of humanity.
In the end, I think my fortune cookie—"Your healing words will mend many hearts"—got it slightly wrong. It is not my healing words but your healing acts—your inexhaustible kindness and sensitivity—that uplift us and help to mend our hearts.
The Historical Society of the Courts of the State of New York
140 Grand Street, Suite 701
White Plains, N.Y. 10601
phone: (914) 824-5717