By Dustin Brown
In the year that has passed since Sept. 11, 2001, the borough’s congressional representatives have assumed new roles as wartime ambassadors to Washington, bearing stories about the struggles and triumphs of a city in recovery.
But as the country observed the unprecedented anniversary of an unparalleled attack, Washington came to New York.
On Friday, both houses of Congress returned to the site in Lower Manhattan where its original members first met and George Washington was inaugurated, demonstrating to the city it does not stand alone.
“It shows a tremendous amount of respect for New York and for New Yorkers the fact that the entire Congress has come here to show unity,” said U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) as she was leaving the historic meeting in Federal Hall.
Just as the lines between Democrats and Republicans were said to have dissolved immediately after Sept. 11, 2001, the commemorative joint session of Congress erased the boundaries separating states.
At least for a day, the senators and congressmen were all New Yorkers.
“In just talking to members of Congress, I love to see how many of them are now wearing buttons that say ‘I Love New York’ on their lapel,” said U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans). “It gives me a sense that they’re closer to New York than ever before.”
Members of Congress met in Federal Hall at 11 a.m. for a joint session that was largely symbolic, featuring a musical performance by a choir from Stuyvesant High School as well as poetry and speeches.
It was a historic return to the same site where Congress first met in 1789, and it not only reinforced the country’s commitment to New York, which bore the brunt of an attack against the nation, but also gave legislators an opportunity to view firsthand the progress of the past year.
“The contrast of what they saw a year ago and what they see today shows the resiliency of New York,” said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY).
U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) described the session as “a symbolic ceremonial event that carries a lot of weight,” a point echoed by U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside).
“I hope that the symbolism is more than that, that the symbolism carries through to the actual support that they have for New York,” he said. “The symbolism has meaning in and of itself. We wanted to demonstrate that we are together with New Yorkers.”
When the session had adjourned, the dignitaries proceeded down the narrow corridor of Wall Street to the outside of the Regent Hotel, where many stopped to comment on the import of the event before stepping inside for a luncheon.
“I know that the eyes and the ears of the world are upon us today, and I think the Congress has acted admirably,” U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) said. “I think we’re sending a loud message to everyone that we are united.”
“It’s an important day. New Yorkers appreciate it,” Maloney said. “Many of my residents in Queens and all over have said how much they appreciate that this has happened.”
Borough President Helen Marshall and her predecessor Claire Shulman, who was in office at the time of the attacks, both attended the luncheon that followed the session to press for funding as the city recovers.
“We’re here because we want Congress to pay special attention to the future of the city because of 9/11,” Shulman said. “Queens is the city.”
In his remarks at the luncheon, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the Sept. 11 attacks created a sense of solidarity that not only spread across the country but also spanned the world.
“That day, as the world watched, as our rescue teams battled the smoke and the chaos, it didn’t matter whether you came from Astoria or Atlanta or Australia, from Queens or Kansas or Kenya, ” Bloomberg said. “New York was everybody’s hometown.”
Reach reporter Dustin Brown by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 154.
