by Kathy Pietrunti, Neptune City Democratic Municipal Treasurer
Now that First Responder’s Month is over, I have something personal to say regarding the Neptune City 9/11.
I’ve rarely been a person that comments on political postings, even though I am married to John Pietrunti. People ask if I’ve read what was posted on the Neptune City Republican Club or the Farley & Dellett for Neptune City Council Facebook pages. Normally, I choose not to read them; I choose not to let those things bother me. It’s political season and typically just a lot of noise that’s not worth a response.
However, when someone questioned whether I had seen the post regarding why we may not have purchased and posted a 9-11 First Responders sign on our lawn, I was compelled to respond.
9-11 SHOULD NEVER BE POLITICIZED.
As some of you know, John lost his brother, Nick, on 9-11. John was also in the PATH station below the building when the first plane hit and exited the station through the WTC concourse. We also lost a friend and neighbor on that day. Our children’s friends lost parents.
It is a tragedy that our family has dealt with for the past 20 years. Living so close to NYC, it never is out of our memory. Until attending a service this year at First Responders Park here in Neptune City, our family has attended only one other memorial service, which was in 2002 in Middletown, NJ, where all 37 victims of our then town were honored. Since then, we have chosen to honor Nick quietly every year by just being together as a family, maybe posting a little something about Nick on our individual pages, cooking meals that Nick enjoyed with us.
I’ve always thought that 9-11 was a day in this country that all citizens put their differences aside and honored all those who were lost that day. “Never Forget.” We can’t forget. So, the fact that we had chosen to not post a 9-11 sign on our lawn is no one’s business. We will continue to honor in the way we choose, without signs, and only in our hearts.
I’m willing to give Mr. Farley and Mr. Dellett the benefit of the doubt and believe that they were not aware of our family’s tragedy before they approved that post to their campaign page. In addition, it would be nice if all references to us not posting a first responder sign on our lawn be removed.
Kathy Pietrunti