FINAL 9/11 HEARTACHE - 1,161 FOREVER LOST TO THE FIRE

A heartbreaking milestone, long dreaded by the families of many World Trade Center victims, has sadly arrived more than three years after the towers collapsed. The city medical examiner's office has exhausted all of its attempts to identify the remains of those killed at Ground Zero - robbing more than 1,000 families of at least a small measure of comfort, the Daily News has learned.

"It's really hard, not having anything," said Sue Rosenblum, whose 28-year-old son, Joshua, died in the terror attacks. "My husband and I have just reached a point where we feel like we probably won't be blessed with any remains," she said.

"Time doesn't make the pain go away. It just makes the edges a little less rough."

For Michael Quinn, the sad news means he and his family are left with only memories of his slain brother, James, 23, who worked for Cantor Fitzgerald - the firm that lost 658 employees on Sept. 11, 2001.

"We haven't found anything of Jimmy," Quinn said. "Absolutely nothing. I try to think of it as if he's just gone."

The medical examiner's office pushed the limits of forensic science after the attacks. Of the 2,749 who died, 1,588 have been identified.

But 1,161 victims - almost half of those killed - remain unidentified. "We've finished making identifications for the World Trade Center," Dr. Robert Shaler, director of forensic biology at the medical examiner's office, told The News. "We're in the process of contacting families."

Families who asked to be notified when the forensic effort officially ended will be called by the medical examiner and letters will be mailed to all victims' families. The letters will note that the ID process could resume if science takes a leap forward.

In recent months, the medical examiner has dealt with the most-damaged DNA samples recovered from the ruins.

Only eight victims have been identified since September. If some still-incomplete lab tests prove successful, a few more victims could be identified later this year, Shaler said.

The city has 9,720 unidentified bone and tissue fragments that cannot be matched to the long list of the dead. The remains are to be preserved at the memorial at Ground Zero.

Terry Strada, whose husband, Thomas, 41, was killed in the attacks, said even the slim chance of his remains being identified in the future is comforting.

"It's pretty devastating to think that you didn't get him back and you might never get him back," said the mother of three. "It's hard to explain that to kids."

I can remember that day,as I suppose everyone else can, like it just happened this morning. I do not believe any of us will forget where we were or what we were doing when we heard and saw the news.

As the wife of a Firefighter,I stood in front of the television set, tears streaming down my face, wondering how on earth they were going to get all of those people out of there - but believing in my heart they would. They are Firefighters. Heroes. They'll get them out. It never once crossed my mind the towers would fall.

I remember getting on the phone to my husband (working his day job), and relating the news. When the Pentagon was hit, we began calling Fort Knox, where his mother was on duty as a Paramedic. Knox was locked down immediately, and even getting through on the phone was tough.

We live (as the crow flies) about 5 miles from the center of Post, but less than 1/4 of a mile from the actual Post border. I kept thinking - what if they miss and hit here? What a selfish thing to think, I realize now, looking back.

I continued to watch the television report, and as the first building went down - found myself unable to breathe. I ran to the car, and drove as quickly as I could to get my children from school. They had to be with me.

It is amazing to me, at this point, almost 4 years later, how many people HAVE forgotten. As news comes in of the war in Iraq, George W. is questioned at every turn, and the Liberals continue to pick at a scab that should have started to heal last November, I am angered that the Media has taken the images of that day from my television. It should be played once a day - a least once a week - maybe each Sunday. I understand that some families of the victims would not want to relive it, as many other Americans wouldn't - but I believe WE MUST.

What is that saying about history? ' those who do not take the time to understand the past are doomed to repeat it?' Something like that.

If this country is EVER to truly heal, and move forward - TOGETHER (yes, I know there will always be those that have to split hairs) - we can NOT allow ourselves to forget that fateful day. That beautiful day in September, the sky a brilliant sapphire blue, not a cloud in site, until the black smoke moved in and choked the view.

To all the families who grieve, and all of those so deeply touched by this (and if you are an AMERICAN, how could you not be in SOME way), a day does not go by that I do not reflect, thank God, and pray that we have learned a lesson.

This is why I joined this wonderful 'Free Republic'. To contribute to the remembrance of our mistakes, and the glory and hope of our future. May God bless us all.

www.hereisnewyork.org

Site that has photos of 9/11 for sale. I have a number of photos and a compilation book from this site. When I originally bought them, the money was going to children who had one or both parents killed on 9/11. Not sure if that is still the case, but they are great reminders to have around for everyone who comes into your home. I have used the book at many political functions. People are always grateful to see it, to help them remember. I also bought it to help my children understand the magnitude of what happened when they get older. God knows how the NEA will have it represented in textbooks by then.

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