Two twisted steel girders stand out distinctly along the History Wall of the Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center. Cemented upright side by side, the two beams recall their buildings of origin, the World Trade Center towers.
The display is a testimony to the events of September 11, 2001. The unprecedented terrorist attacks that occurred that day were directed not only on high-profile targets in New York and Washington, but on American culture. The assault paralyzed the nation and the world in the moment but galvanized them in the end. It was a day of horror initially and heroism ultimately.
The Knights of Columbus Heroes Fund was established by the organization’s Board of Directors, meeting by telephone, September 12, one day following the attack. With a $1 million endowment the was created to recognize the first responders – fire, police and medical – who perished in the line of duty and service to the victims, and to assist their families.
In the model of the Catholic fraternal order itself, founded to support widows and orphans, the Heroes Fund garnered donations from K of C members and the public to produce checks totaling more than $3,500 for 419 surviving families. Further epitomizing Knights of Columbus character and principles, the organization’s field agents delivered the checks in person to offer condolences to family members and tribute to the fallen heroes.
Among all the nearly 3,000 people killed that day were 46 members of the Knights of Columbus, including 13 firefighters, five law enforcement officers and 28 eight other victims of the attack. A memorial plaque beside the steel girders perpetually honors the following brother Knights:
Mark F. Broderick
Council 6424, Old Bridge, NJ
WTC Employee
Herman C. Broghammer
Council 6561, North Merrick, NY
WTC Employee
Donald J. Burns
Council 3958 Smithtown, NY
Firefighter
Thomas M. Butler
Council 821, Kings Park, NY
Firefighter
Liam D. Callahan
Council 3359, Denville, NY
Law Enforcement Officer
William O. Caspar
Council 2204, Farmingdale, NY
WTC Employee
Richard G. Catarelli
Council 2204, Brooklyn, NY
WTC Employee
Michael J. Cawley
Council 3701, Woodside, NY
Firefighter
Albert Conde
Council 6392, Englishtown, NJ
WTC Employee
Charles G. Costello
Council 6424, Old Bridge, NJ
WTC Employee
Robert J. Crawford
Council 497, Brooklyn, NY
WTC Firefighter
Donald A. DiTullio
Council 70, Lynn, MA
AA Flight 11 Passenger
Carlos Dominguez
Council 4661, Brooklyn, NY
WTC Employee
Raymond M. Downey
Council 4428, Deer Park, NY
Firefighter
Charles A. Droz
Council 7992, Burke, VA
AA Flight 77 Passenger
Lee S. Fehling
Council 3689, Bellmore, NY
Firefighter
Donald A. Foreman
Council 1694, Staten Island, NY
Law Enforcement Officer
John M. Griffin
Council 5257, Waldwick, NJ
WTC Employee
David J. Grimner
Council 6561, North Merrick, NY
WTC Employee
James A. Haran
Council 3481, Oceanside, NY
WTC Employee
Emeric J. Harvey
Council 4885, Edison, NJ
WTC Employee
Patrick A. Hoey
Council 6552, Middletown, NJ
WTC Employee
Charles J. Houston
Council 5989, Brooklyn, NY
WTC Employee
Joseph L. Howard
Council 4815, Old Bridge, NJ
WTC Employee
Robert J. Hymel
Council 8183, Lake Ridge, VA
Pentagon Employee
Walter G. Hynes
Council 2672, Rockaway Beach, NY
Firefighter
Anthony P. Infante, Jr.
Council 2086, Chatham, NJ
Law Enforcement Officer
Edward T. Keane
Council 2561, Caldwell, NJ
WTC Employee
James F. Lynch
Council 4885, Edison, NJ
Law Enforcement Officer
Timothy J. Maude
Council 6138, Greenwood, IN
Pentagon Employee
Daniel F. McGinley
Council 1736, Ridgewood, NJ
WTC Employee
Charles R. Mendez
Council 5989, Brooklyn, NY
Firefighter
Charles M. Mills
Council 4757, Brentwood, NY
WTC Employee
Franklyn J. Monahan
Council 2672, Rockaway Beach, NY
WTC Employee
Edward C. Murphy
Council 3969, Clifton, NJ
WTC Employee
Daniel O’Callaghan
Council 7262, Farmingville, NY
Firefighter
Jeffrey A. Palazzo
Council 1073, Brooklyn, NY
Firefighter
Kevin M. Prior
Council 3689, Bellmore, NY
Firefighter
James P. Quinn
Council 126, Brooklyn, NY
WTC Employee
Richard Rodriguez
Council 299, Perth Amboy, NJ
Law Enforcement Officer
Wayne John Saloman
Council 3476, Seaford, NY
WTC Employee
Francis Skidmore, Jr.
Council 6462, Mendham, NJ
WTC Employee
John G. Ueltzhoeffer
Council 4186, Kenilworth, NJ
WTC Employee
Lawrence G. Veling
Council 5989, Brooklyn, NY
Firefighter
Joseph V. Vigiano
Council 4428, Deer Park, NY
Firefighter
John D. Yamnicky
Council 2293, Bryantown, MD
AA Flight 77 Passenger
The Knights of Columbus upholds four principles – charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism – all of which were displayed by members that day and in the aftermath. May God grant eternal rest to those who died and peace among nations.