Rocky River Middle School's Sept. 11 memorial, located near the school’s main entrance, features three tall painted panels to represent the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

9/11 memorial unveiled
By Ben Saylor
Rocky River
Published Oct. 3, 2007

Residents of all ages and members of local safety forces filled the Rocky River Middle School gym last Wednesday to commemorate the unveiling of the school’s Sept. 11 memorial.

The memorial, located near the school’s main entrance, features three tall painted panels to represent the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa. The panels were painted by Brandon Juhasz. Glass cases hold an engraved bell presented to the school by the Rocky River Fire Department and a piece of steel from the World Trade Center.

Salvatore D’Agostino

The event’s main speaker was New York City firefighter Salvatore D’Agostino. Matthew Fitzsimmons, a Rocky River resident who grew up with D’Agostino in New York, said D’Agostino receives many requests to speak not only nationwide, but worldwide as well. Fitzsimmons added that D’Agostino only rarely accepts offers to speak.

D’Agostino prefaced his remarks by telling the crowd that he did not have a written speech prepared.

“It [his words] comes from my head and my heart,” D’Agostino said.

A firefighter with Ladder Co. 6, which is located in the Chinatown area of Manhattan, D’Agostino and his comrades were one of the first companies on the scene on Sept. 11. While climbing up the stairs in the North Tower, D’Agostino’s captain issued an order to evacuate the building following the collapse of the South Tower. At this time, D’Agostino and his colleagues had reached the 27th floor. They began their descent and encountered a woman named Josephine Harris who worked in the tower. Harris’ slow pace slowed down the firefighters as well, and eventually, she refused to move. The group had reached the fourth floor, and at this point the tower began collapsing. D’Agostino, other firefighters and Harris survived and eventually extricated themselves from the rubble. D’Agostino went on to be nominated for a Class 1 Meritorious Act Award, the highest honor given by the New York City Fire Department.

D’Agostino recalled the events of the day with painstaking detail, talking about the words of encouragement from civilians evacuating the World Trade Center. (One even remarked that they deserved a raise for their efforts). He also recalled the Twin Towers themselves with fondness.

“They truly were beautiful buildings,” D’Agostino said.

D’Agostino also praised the school for creating the memorial.

“It’s a tool to teach students about what happened,” D’Agostino said. “The school will be better for it.”

Dianna Foley, fund-raising chairperson of the Rocky River Middle School Sept. 11 Memorial Committee, announced at the dedication that the group had surpassed their goal of raising $12,000 to pay for the memorial. The total amount raised, as of last Wednesday, was $12,749. However, the committee will continue to accept donations, as the remaining funds will be used to create a special scholarship for a graduating Rocky River High School senior planning a career as a firefighter or a member of another safety force.