By The TimesLedger
One year after the attack on the World Trade Center, we have come to understand that there is no closure. The wounds from that day have not even begun to heal. The anger has subsided, but it still exists just beneath the surface of our existence, ready to explode at any moment.
The people of New York have endured incredible pain with strength and a courage that have inspired the world. In a very brief moment of time, Queens lost 41 firefighters. Of the 23 police officers who died, three lived in Queens. There is nothing more moving and nothing more noble than the funeral of a firefighter or police officer who has given his life to save others. But in the year that has passed the drums and bagpipes have sounded more times than the heart can bear.
“No greater love exists than the one that leads a man to lay down his life for another,” said a eulogy to one Queens firefighter. “America is a better place because of your unselfish dedication to fellow citizens. You embody the spirit of America and love. America will never forget your sacrifice.”
On the anniversary of 9/11, our heart goes out to all Queens families who lost loved ones at the World Trade Center. We salute the men and women who worked tirelessly for months digging through the rubble looking at first for survivors and later for the remains of fallen heroes. And we salute the citizens who found the courage to keep moving forward, refusing to be defeated by the hateful act of madmen.
There was concern in the days following the attack that innocent Americans who happen to practice the Islamic faith would be blamed for the acts of a handful of fanatics. We must continue to be vigilant to make certain that the tragedy of 9/11 does not become an excuse for intolerance. For their part, the borough’s Islamic leaders must be unequivocal in their condemnation of the hatred that created this tragedy.
One year later, we are all Americans. We all share the pain and the determination to move forward.
Editorial: The Wendy’s trial
After more than two years, the trial of the man accused of being the ring leader in the Wendy’s massacre is set to begin. On May 24, 2000, five workers at the Wendy’s on Main Street in Flushing were herded into the basement where they were bound and executed.
Craig Godineaux, one of the men accused of this crime, already has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and will spend the rest of his life in prison. He was spared the death penalty because he is borderline retarded.
John Taylor has not been offered a deal. If he is convicted, he could become the first man in Queens to face the death penalty since capital punishment was reinstated in New York.
It will not be easy to find jurors who do not feel passionately about this case. Nevertheless it is fitting that the case is being heard in Queens. The people of this borough have the right to see justice carried out.
This is a trial that should be televised for all to see. The five men and women slain that night were the sons and daughters of Queens. They were everyman, ordinary people working to pay for school or to support their families.
The evidence against Taylor, including his confession and the testimony of Godineaux, is compelling. Taylor’s attorneys said they will not deny that Taylor pulled the trigger that night. Instead they will focus on factors in his life that will mitigate against the death penalty.
The families of the victims are crying out for justice. The people of Queens want to close the book on this tragic story.
