Healing Hands of Comfort ~ Father Brian Jordan
Father Brian Jordan, Midnight Mass on Ground Zero – December 31, 2001.
On that cold December night, Father Jordan ministered to recovery & construction workers, laborers, volunteers and victim families. The mass was in front of the iron cross that welders had mounted on West Street. The 17-foot high cross-shaped girder came from the World Trade Center’s North Tower. It had special meaning to all on Ground Zero.
Ground Zero Cross ~ Midnight Mass ~ December 31, 2001
Found by Frank Silecchia ~ September 13, 2001 ~ North WTC
As work progressed on the west side, the cross was relocated in February 2002, to a location on the easterly side near Church Street. This sacred spot overlooked the entire 16-acre site as work progressed for the next five months. Mass and religious ceremonies took place at the cross. It was not uncommon to see people of all faiths and personal beliefs stand by the cross in silent reflection.
FDNY Bagpipes play after midnight mass ~ December 31, 2001
This mass on December 31, 2001 took place at a pivotal moment with special significance. For the first time, one could see across the 16-acres south to Liberty Street and up north to St. Paul’s Chapel. While attending the mass, Ground Zero took on an eerie moonscape appearance, barren land and nothing on the surface. Although there was a sense of accomplishment, the next grueling five months entailed the removal of seven stories of the subsurface earth, buildings and remains.
Disaster Relief Canine ‘Nikie” with firefighter by WTC North Tower 2002
Several stories below West Street
Photo: © 2002 Mark Lenahan – Associated Press
Father Jordan worked tirelessly to provide comfort to the living and bless those that perished.
The Human-Animal-Bond
Dogs suffer from grief ~ both human and animal ~
They benefit from comforting words and healing gestures.
~ The World Trade Center Cross ~
Part of the permanent collection on display in the
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
Photos unless otherwise noted: © 2001 – 2002 Frank Shane/K-9 Disaster Relief. All Rights Reserved
About the K-9 Disaster Relief Organization: A non-profit humanitarian organization to help traumatized victims and children of disasters and critical incidents through Canine Disaster Relief Services. In addition to providing courses, community outreach, workshops and speaking appearances, the organization, through its K-9 for Kids program, is collaborating with the National September 11 Memorial Museum and the Museum’s innovative programs designed for children, parents and caregivers.
About the National September 11 Memorial Museum: The principal memorial and museum, respectively, commemorating the September 11 attacks of 2001, which killed 2,977 people, and the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, which killed six. The Memorial Museum is located at the World Trade Center site on the former location of the Twin Towers, which were destroyed during the attacks. It is operated by a non-profit corporation, headed by Joe Daniels, with the mission to raise funds for program, own and operate the Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site. www.911Memorial.org
For information on this article contact:
frankshane@frankshane.com
http://www.K-9DisasterRelief.org
#K9Disasterrelief
#K9ActsOfKindness