Cooperstown expresses gratitude to Sept. 11 Queens firefighters

The gala -- for 15 firemen from a firehouse in Queens -- came about due the imagination of a member of St. Mary's parish, Noel Hage. Her brother-in-law, Mark Montgomery, is a fireman at Engine Company 317, Ladder 165, in St. Albans, Queens. On Sept. 11, he and his team were called to assist at the World Trade Center.

"We were so grateful for Mark's safe return from the rescue," she said. "I had such a deep feeling of gratitude to them all in my heart, and I know many Americans felt the same way."

Saying thanks

"I just suggested that we tell them all how we feel. When we were finished, we had 66 beautiful letters from parishioners," she said. "Basically, we wanted to send the message that even though we are a small town and far away from New York City, we think they did a great job."

Before Mrs. Hage knew it, she had high school students writing letters as well.

"We even had some letters written in Spanish that were translated into English and sent to the firemen," she told The Evangelist. "Mark sent back word to us that the firemen loved them."

Connections

But that was only the beginning. Mrs. Hage said that new items began appearing on her front porch: home-baked cookies and bread; boxes of sweatshirts, baseball caps and tee-shirts donated by local baseball shops; and even ten cases of "Old Slugger" beer, presented by a local brewery.

The city's generosity and outpouring of love gave Mrs. Hage yet another idea.

"It became obvious to me that the entire community was rallying in our effort to thank these firefighters," she said, so she decided to take it all the way. The result was an entire weekend of celebration in Cooperstown for the firemen and their families.

Call and response

People began offering the use of their homes. Some residents had no room in their homes but wanted to do something; so, under the leadership of Karen Streck, a friend of Mrs. Hage's, they organized a group to make gift baskets for each fireman and his family.

Meeting in Cooperstown

"Fifteen firefighters arrived at our house with their wives and children in nine cars," Mrs. Hage said. "They included chiefs, lieutenants and captains as well as regular firemen. Twelve brought their families. There were a total of 18 kids, ranging in age from 14 down to an infant. It was wonderful!"

After they settled into their rooms, 60 of the visitors went to the Hage home for dinner. Then it was off to the Baseball Hall of Fame for a free tour. Afterwards, some of the firemen attended the high school football game as the guests of the principal, who is a former chief of the Cooperstown volunteer fire battalion.

Mass meeting

After that, the firemen donned full dress uniforms and attended a special Vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary's as guests of the parish.

"The firemen processed up the main aisle and sat on the right side while our volunteer firemen sat on the left at the front of the church," explained Mrs. Hage. The church was filled to capacity, with people standing in the back and up both side aisles of the church. "It was just like a Christmas Mass. Each fireman participated in some way. One read the petitions, and four of them brought up the gifts."

Mourning

"These men are still in mourning for their lost family members and firefighters," Mrs. Hage reported. "From that engine company alone, several firefighters were lost. Two firemen lost fathers, one lost a cousin and one lost a brother."

The Cooperstown volunteer firefighters brought a bell from their firehouse and placed it in front of the altar before Mass.

"One of the Queens firemen got up and read a statement saying that they wanted to remember their brothers who were lost or still missing," Mrs. Hage said. "As each name of a missing or deceased firefighter was announced, a fireman rang the bell. It was very, very sad. The church was totally silent."

Finally, the Queens firemen unraveled a large white banner to the parish, thanking them for all their support. In red-and-blue letters, the banner read: "FDNY thanks Cooperstown for its support. Freedom is not always free."

"It was a wonderful weekend," said Mrs. Hage. "As the cars left our driveway, my husband Eric and I were so sad to see them leave. As I thought of what they had gone through and what they were going back to, all I could think of was, 'Be safe, take care, and come back and see us soon."

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