Crime & Safety

NYPD Thanked Hopatcong Students After 9/11

Diane Veres' class sent letters of encouragement to the New York City police and fire departments soon after the Sept. 11, 2011, attacks. Her class' gratitude didn't go unnoticed.

Hopatcong teacher Diane Veres knew most of the students were too young to remember 9/11.

So Veres dug up letters she received from the New York City police department in the weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and read them to students on Friday.

Veres' class a decade ago sent letters of encouragement to New York City's emergency services. "About a month later we received a few letters back saying how much those words of thanks and support meant to those precincts who lost so much," Veres said.

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"My intent was to make a connection for the students here in Hopatcong to show how our country needed support from all ages to heal what the terrorists had done on September 11," she said. "I was very honored to read these letters to the students."

Veres sent Patch copies of two of the letters. We attached them to the right. But since the ink on the letters has faded over time, we transcribed each letter below.

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The first was from New York City Police Lieutenant John G. Rodelli to Amanda Rossy. Rodelli talks about his experience at the World Trade Center and why he's familiar with Hopatcong.

Dear Amanda,

Thank you for your thoughtful letter of encouragement. I am a New York City Police Lieutenant and I am assigned to the Chinatown and Little Italy section of Manhattan South, a three mite ride away from the World Trade Center. On that morning I was patrolling supervisor in charge of Police Officers that were assigned to the General Election sites. Myself and the officer who was driving me were some of the first responders to the initial 911 emergency call that came from the World Trade Center. We were are at the World Trade Center Towers when the second plane crashed into it causing a large explosion and fire. We evacuated several hundred people from the towers up until the final moments before the building began to collapse. We were a few of the fortunate ones who were spared any serious injuries. Time and circumstances did not allow for any further evacuations. Your letter made us feel good in that we did rescue as many people as we could although sadly we still have thoughts of what might of been if we were afforded more time before the collapse.

I am familiar with the area of Lake Hopatconf for when I was a child my grandparents had a house on Lake Lackawanna, Byram Township and they used to take me to Bertrand's Island, which was an amusement Park near your town of Hopatcong.

I wish you success with all of your future endeavors and please family, friends and education are the keys to a happy and productive life. Please share this letter with your class.

John G. Rodelli

Lieutenant

The second letter is from the New York City Police Department's Sixth Precinct thanking Veres' class for their moral support.

The members of the Sixth Precinct would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your letters of supper All of the mail that we have received has been posted in the Station House and sent to the family of Police Officer James Leahy. As of this letter Officer Leahy is still listed as missing.

Words cannot express the amount of encouragement and comfort that these letters have brough to the Officers who work here and to the family of Officer Leahy. Your prayers and good wishes have made a very difficult time a little easier. We will never forget your kindness.

Gratefully yours

Members of The Sixth

Precinct


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