PRESS RELEASE
September 7, 2021
NYC PBA Unveils 9/11 Memorial Wall with Portraits of the Fallen Heroes
Today, the NYC PBA unveiled a new September 11th Memorial Wall in PBA headquarters featuring hand-painted portraits of the 23 NYPD members killed on September 11th, 2001 and a tribute to the hundreds of police officers who have died of 9/11-related illness.
The portrait series, entitled “23 Remembered,” was commissioned by Brothers Before Others, a non-profit organization that provides aid and comfort to the families of fallen police officers, and painted by Philadelphia Police Officer Jonny Castro, a forensic artist who has made it his personal mission to paint moving portraits of fallen police officers and military members killed in the line of duty.
VIDEO: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/agtawwiqnex1bgc/AACYuugQuwBPNMkt-bMGxMsCa?dl=0
SPEAKERS:
- PBA President Patrick J. Lynch
- NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes
- Philadelphia Police Officer & Forensic Sketch Artist Jonny Castro
- Michael J. Burke, President/Founder, Brothers Before Others
LINE-OF-DUTY FAMILY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
- Family of Det. Joseph Vigiano: Kathy (wife), Jan (mother), P.O. Joseph Vigiano, Jr. (son), P.O. James Vigiano (son)
- Family of P.O. Ramon Suarez: Carmen (wife), Sophia (daughter), P.O. Jillian Suarez (daughter)
- Family of P.O. Stephen Driscoll: Ann (wife), Barry (son), Gail Driscoll Silke (sister)
- Family of Sgt. Timothy Roy: Stacey (wife)
- Family of P.O. Brian McDonnell: Maggie (wife), Kevin (brother), Ann (mother)
- Family of Sgt. Rodney Gillis: Ronald (brother), Geraldine Gilliam (mother)
- Family of P.O. James Leahy: Marcella (wife), Geanette (mother) Det. Artie Leahy (brother), P.O. Joe Safatle (nephew), other family members
- Family of Det. Claude Richards: Amy Brown, Dan McNally
- Family of P.O. John D’Allara: Dan (brother)
- Family of P.O. Ronald Kloepfer: Janet (mother) and family
- Family of P.O. Thomas Langone: JoAnne (wife)
- Family of P.O. Santos Valentin Jr.: Gloria (mother) and family
- Family of P.O. Paul Talty: John & Gloria (parents), Barbara (wife)
# # #The Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York (PBA) is the largest municipal police union in the nation and represents nearly 50,000 active and retired NYC police officers.
