Women at Ground Zero: Respite in California

The California Trip

About a year after 9/11, as the book was about to be released, we wanted to do something to thank and honor the women who were about to share their stories with the world. Mary and I ended up inviting all 30 of them to the cozy wine country hamlet of  Healdsburg, California, for a first-class, all-expense-paid week of rest and recognition.

When we first approached the town of Healdsburg with the wild idea of bringing a large group of rescue workers to Sonoma County — and raising the money to pay for their trip — we were heartened when local businesses, wineries, city departments, public safety agencies, service groups, and individuals immediately stepped forward and said, “We can do this.”

Soon, many others from throughout Northern California were also committed to recognizing these heroic women. Hundreds of individuals opened up their checkbooks and volunteered time and expertise to help us plan the trip and raise more than $160,000 in cash and in-kind contributions.

Our guests from New York City commented again and again how difficult it was to accept the overwhelming display of support and gratitude showered on them during their week in Sonoma County. They were astounded that a community clear across the country cared so deeply about them and recognized the sacrifices they made on 9/11 and in the days following the attacks.

In fact, after one week in Healdsburg, they had received so many gifts from local residents and businesses, we had to send a volunteer to Target to purchase 30 large duffel bags for them to carry it all home.

But on the morning before they left for New York, the Healdsburg Police Department and Healdsburg Fire Department arranged a fitting send-off. Firefighters, police officers, and paramedics stood at attention in front of a ladder truck, saluting the women as they left town under police escort. These veteran New York City rescue workers, who have lived through the worst of the worst, stared in amazement at this display of support. Many of them had tears running down their cheeks.

There will never be enough words to thank everyone who provided first-class lodging, beautiful meals at local wineries and restaurants, spa treatments, skydiving experiences, massages, and a banquet and book reading in their honor. We are so grateful. Everyone who participated helped conveyed the message that we have not forgotten the sacrifices made at Ground Zero.

It turns out that we had so many cash contributions, and so many in-kind donations — including a Sonoma County Airport Express bus and full-time driver for the whole week — that we had more than $60,000 left over. We used this money to establish the Women at Ground Zero Scholarship Fund, which is still granting scholarships to students enrolled at the Public Safety Training Center at Santa Rosa Junior College.

 

IN THE NEWS

Ground Zero Women Find Rest
and Challenges in Visit

by SUSAN SWARTZ
Press Democrat
November 9, 2002

From conquering fears to getting enough sleep, rescuers are enjoying a welcome breather for a week.

If the skies clear Sunday, three New York rescue workers will be jumping out of a plane over Sonoma County. Patty Lucci, an officer with the New York City Police Department, considers it part of her post-Sept. 11 therapy. “My biggest fears have always been heights and flying,” Lucci said. But since the attacks, when the 27-year-old stood in a bucket brigade sorting through the remains at the devastated World Trade Center, she’s experienced a more overwhelming dread.

“I decided this would be a good place to try to let go of all my fears,” said Lucci, who will be joined on a tandem skydiving adventure by Mercedes Rivera and Sande Santiago, both New York emergency medical technicians.

The skydiving — part fun, part therapy — is one of many activities offered 34 women rescue workers being honored for their 9/11 heroism this week in Sonoma County.

The troupe of firefighters, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and police officers featured in the book “Women of Ground Zero,” were flown out Wednesday thanks to contributions by local service clubs, businesses, public safety units and individuals.

Sonoma County authors Mary Carouba and Susan Hagen wrote the book, using word-for-word accounts, to show that women were a vital part of the 9/11 rescue and recovery team. Some will retell their stories at a public reading and reception Sunday at Spreckels Theater in Rohnert Park.

For many, the California trip is the first time they’ve been away from New York since the attacks. “I needed a vacation in the worst way,” said Detective Jennifer Abramowitz over a candlelight lunch in the barrel room at Dry Creek Vineyard, one of several wineries and restaurants hosting the women during their week’s stay.

“Never in my life would I have expected anyone to do this for me,” Abramowitz said. She normally works with the child abuse squad but was reassigned after the attacks to spend 12-hour days at the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island.

Local organizers raised $100,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to bring the women to Sonoma County, following the authors’ inspiration to show the women “some Wine Country R&R.” Headquartered in Healdsburg, the women are enjoying winery tours, gourmet meals and massages and have been offered hot air balloon rides, boat cruises and skydiving.

The weather could wipe out some activities, but an added glitch was having their return flights cancelled when their carrier, National Airlines, suddenly shut down last week. Organizers are working to find a replacement carrier to fly the women home Tuesday.

The New Yorkers are taking it all in stride. They visited Healdsburg schools Friday and were feted Friday night at a banquet at the Villa Chanticleer. Their servers were local public safety people. Today many of them planned to take naps.

New York Fire Department Captain Brenda Berkman said, “It’s hard for us to take this overwhelming hospitality. Rescue workers are the ones who give. That’s our role.”

Berkman, who brought suit to become the first woman to join the FDNY in 1982, was looking forward to a massage, a balloon ride and “those wacky baths,” referring to the enzyme baths donated by Osmosis in Freestone.

For Sue Keane, a Port Authority police officer, the trip is paying off in a rare full night’s sleep. She said that since 9/11 she seldom gets more than two hours of sleep a night. “Here, I slept like a baby.”

She and the others noted that while 9/11 has faded from the news they’re grateful for the attention they’re getting this week. “In New York it almost seems like people are back to normal,” Keane said. “But you get outside of New York and people ask us, ‘How are you?’ “Being here is bringing it all back for us. But not in a bad way.”

© 2002- The Press Democrat

 

A Week-long Vacation
They’ll Never Forget

By Ray Holley
Healdsburg Tribune
November 13, 2002

The visit from our 30-plus new sisters from New York is over, but the connections will never end.

I spent much of the last week lurking around at various “Women at Ground Zero” events and happenings, taking photos and soaking it in. I can tell you that the volunteers who made this happen have made all of us proud. The women had a week-long vacation they’ll never forget, and the cops, firefighters, EMTs, and other volunteers from here had the chance to meet the truest and bravest expressions of American heroism.

This will be echoing through all of our heads and hearts for a long time. I know I’ll be revisiting it here again and again, but for now, I’m breathless. Instead, I offer you the words of FDNY Captain Brenda Berkman, the first woman ever to serve in the Fire Department of New York. When Brenda spoke at the Spreckels Performing Arts Center Sunday night at a book reading, she brought the house to its feet.

“I think the message we should be sending out to the world is that our country welcomes people with many different points of view, from many different backgrounds, and with many different abilities, and that we all work together in this country without regard to race or gender. By showing women and people of color as patriots who have contributed to this effort and made sacrifices on behalf of this effort, I think we’re showing ourselves to be stronger than any sexist, racist, or hate-mongering group. This is what we should aspire to show the world, that we have a way of life that deserves to be preserved. I think that’s a patriotic message.”

So do I, Brenda. Thanks for saying it.

© 2002 Healdsburg Tribune