Archive for September 2011
The Boulevard of Bravery
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Word came to me that Jimmy Van Bramer, who is my local City Council representative, was going to conduct a ceremony in Woodside at the firehouse of the Rescue 4 Unit. Designed to honor the members of that storied unit of the FDNY who fell in the line of duty on September 11, the event was scheduled for noon.
I packed up the camera, and accompanied again by the Charismatic Croat, set off for Woodside.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Rescue 4 was hit particularly hard by the attack on 911, and Mr. Van Bramer had gathered several prominent members of the local political establishment and fire unions. Along with family members of the fallen, they came here to designate this corner of Queens Blvd., where Rescue 4 (and Engine 292) is housed, as “The Boulevard of Bravery”.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A subject I normally won’t touch with a ten foot pole, September 11th is the stuff of history now, ready for postmodern interpretation and analogy. Future scholars will build careers upon the topic, discussing its ramifications and debating deeper meanings.
Ten years, from a historical point of view, is nothing.
It’s 2051 at the earliest that the subject will be able to be discussed apolitically, and probably much further into the future.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The turnout for the event was massive, with several retired firefighters and a coterie of political stars, as well as an enormous mainstream media presence- which is rare in Queens. Also in attendance were the Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Corps of the FDNY. In the audience were several people who had lost a loved one in Manhattan, ten years prior, family and friends alike.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Then, of course, there were the Firemen.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As mentioned in previous posts, despite my advancing age and infirmities, it still takes a great deal of effort for me not to chase after a speeding fire truck yelling “firemen, firemen” in the same manner as I did as a small child.
Ten years ago, it was custom to break into spontaneous applause when a fire unit passed by, and few if any FDNY personnel had to pay for their own drinks at any saloon where their affiliation was known.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After unveiling the street sign mounted on a post above Queens Blvd. along with family members of those lost from the Rescue 4 detail on September 11th, Mr Van Bramer presented the unit Captain with a duplicate sign, presumably for display within the firehouse.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Then the Drums sang out and the Pipers began to roar, and the Emerald Society performed the hymnal “Amazing Grace”.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The admonition offered by the attendant clergy (and by a few of the politicians), who led a spiritual moment of prayer for the deceased, was to perform some sort of good deed today.Render some sort of good natured action for another, which would honor the occasion, and which was referred to as a national day of service.
frenzied throng
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As you may have noticed from the little flickr badge on the right hand side of this page, it’s been a rather busy few days for your humble narrator. The Working Harbor Committee Tugboat races were a hoot, as always, but I’ve had to develop and deliver the shots in a somewhat timely manner- despite the annoyance of a computer system crash and a concurrent setback in my overall schedule.
Such is life.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Some extremely exciting stuff is on the front burner right now, and October is looking to be another incredibly busy month. I can’t discuss any of it yet, but there will be several intriguing “events” which will be described to you in some detail in the coming weeks that I’m involved with.
Suffice to say- “Want to see something cool? Come with me, bring a camera and ID”.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
What does all this shadowy discussion and veiled promise have to do with shots of speedy trains and hidden trackbeds? Nothing at all, but this is a visual metaphor for what it feels like to be me at the moment.
A deer in the headlights, with a juggernaut hurtling ever closer.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Just in case you were wondering- the trains are Metro North at Spuyten Duyvel, LIRR at Woodside and then DUPBO near Hunters Point, and Amtrak at Sunnyside Yards.
Catching up on the latest round of research, getting the next series of postings together, getting back on track. Expect regular but rather short posts for the next few days as I pull together the next session of this, your Newtown Pentacle.
The Newtown Pentacle 