Posted by: |
RMontgomery |
On: |
1/25/2004 |
ID: |
149 |
At OLA on 12/1/58? |
Born before or after 12/1/58? |
Where Lived on 12/1/58? |
No |
Before |
Teaneck, New Jersey |
I was in the fifth grade at Saint Anastasia School in Teaneck, New Jersey at the time of the fire. I remember reading about the fire in the newspapers and seeing the pictures of those killed on the the front pages. This was the first time that I realized that children and adults could be killed in a fire. The story of the fire was probably the first time I actually paid attention to current events. As a family, we knelt and prayed at night for those that died and for those that were injured and their families. It seemed like a dark Christmas, since you could not forget this tragic event and what had to be happening to the families involved. You also felt helplessness since you could not do anything to help other then pray. At the time of the fire my father was the Town's Fire Inspector and I remember his efforts in re-inspecting the schools, holding timed evacuation drills and my brother recently told me of his fight with the autominous Board of Education to improve school safety. Although stored in one's memory, I never forgot this fire and the tragedy surrounding it. On December 1, 2003, my daughter Erin called me at my part-time employment (always calls to tease about working when she is off duty (she is a nurse), "Oh, you're working buddy, sorry to hear that", etc) and asked me what day it was, I stated that I had no clue. She then reminded me of "the fire in Chicago", and I let my guard down (as we only do with family) and told her the story again and how it always had impacted me. I told her if I ever had a chance to go to Chicago, I wanted to go to the OLA Site, pay my respects and just leave having no one know I was there. Typical of fathers, when Christmas was approaching, I didn't want or need anything. When Christmas Day came, she told me that her and her sister (Tracy Schoenberg)were giving me "a gift" of a trip to Chicago and a chance to pay my respects. I can't tell you how much this meant to me and how thoughtful a gift this was.On January 10, 2004, we flew to Chicago, took an afternoon walking tour of the city and then was picked up at the hotel by John Raymond and his wonderful wife Kathy. That night, the night of the fund raiser, we got to meet the wonderful members of "Friends of OLA". This took me back to a great time when working class families lived in the neighborhood of the church and Catholic education was the best. Everybody at the dinner made you feel welcome and I got to share in the joy of the moment, witnessing reunions and friendships that go back years. OLA and the memories are important to all survivors and the memories of those lost are not to be forgotton. The evening was upbeat with the purpose of Friends of OLA organization a positive presence. The next day we visited the OLA site, Friends of OLA's memorial monument, a local firehouse and the surrounding neighborhood and flew back home.I sincerely want to thank John and Kathy Raymond and their dear friend Dan Consolazio for making this trip such a memorable experience. I was able to pay my long overdue respects in person and share something important to me, from my childhood with my daughters. Having been in the fire service for almost 33 years and having seeing plenty of tragedies over the years I never became case hardened where it didn't impact me. What happened in those split seconds years ago was tragic but like all things tragic and out of our control those impacted must try and do something good. Friends of OLA is just that, something positive coming from something so tragic.To all the members of Friends of OLA, keep up the good work and a sincere thank you for making my daughter, Erin, and I feel so welcome.
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