Newark memorial honors Portuguese victims and heroes of 9/11
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Michael Silva, a councilman in Newark, New Jersey, organized a memorial to commemorate the Portuguese victims and first responders who died or served after the September 11th attacks.
Silva, a 28-year veteran of the police force, believed it was important to remember the sacrifices made by so many, especially as New Jersey lost more residents than any other state outside of New York.
He and fellow officers from Newark spent 10 to 12 hours at the site on September 14th, 2001, assisting with rescue efforts. Silva explained that approximately 3,000 people died in the initial attacks, and another 9,000 have died since from cancers and other illnesses related to the event. He emphasized the importance of remembering not only those who perished but also the firefighters and police officers who ran toward danger while others fled.
The memorial also honors the 343 firefighters and over 70 police officers who died during the rescue efforts. Silva plans to thank members of the Portuguese community, including police and firefighters, for their continued service. He shared that he personally witnessed the outpouring of support from first responders across the United States and around the world, a moment of unity he will never forget.
