On another list, but too important not to share -- > Irish Examiner > > 27/07/02 > > More than 250 families of WTC disaster to visit Ireland > > By Seán McCárthaigh > > MORE than 250 families of police and fire officers killed in the > September 11 terrorist attacks on New York's World Trade Centre are > due to arrive in Ireland for a special holiday this year. > > The first beneficiaries of the US-Ireland Alliance, Innisfree > project landed in Dublin yesterday to personally thank members of > the police and fire brigade in Ireland for supporting the > initiative. > > New York widow, Sheila Langone, lost her two sons in the terrorist > attack which killed more than 3,000 people. > > The bodies of police officer, Peter Langone (41) and his > firefighter brother, Thomas (39) were never recovered from the > collapsed remains of the Twin Towers at Ground Zero. > > Ms Langone, whose parents originally come from Kerry, was > accompanied on her first visit to Ireland in almost 20 years by her > daughter, Rosemarie. > > Yesterday, they presented Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne and > Assistant Fire Chief Hugh O'Neill with respective badges from the > New York Police and Fire Department at a special function in > Dublin. > > Both women also spoke movingly about the trauma of the past year. > > "It has been particularly hard for my two sons' wives and their > four children," said Sheila, who admitted she had only visited > Ground Zero once since the attack. > > "I couldn't go there when it was still smouldering. My imagination > did enough for me," she added. > > They also spoke warmly about the reaction and support of friends, > neighbours and complete strangers. > > "It has been the greatest outpouring of love and compassion we have > ever known." > > Both women also expressed disappointment at recent suggestions put > forward for the redevelopment of the Ground Zero site. They > described the various proposals as "dry, dull and ugly." > > The Langones will travel to Waterford, Cork and Kenmare later this > week as part of their holiday. > > The Irish Hotels Federation has arranged accommodation for all the > visitors, while the Car Rental Council of Ireland is offering free > car rentals to the families. > > The Garda Síochana in association with their colleagues in the PSNI > have raised $232,000, which mostly go towards the cost of airline > tickets, while further funds to the Innisfree project have also > been contributed by the Fire Brigade Services. > > Donations can be made to the Innisfree Project at the Bank of > Ireland, Lwr Baggot St, Dublin 2. Sorting code: 90-14-90 A/c No: > 40384731. > > ****************************************** > > >