2996 TRIBUTE TO LEONARD RAGAGLIA

As many others, I signed up awhile back at 2996:Honouring the 9/11 Victims to honor a victim of 9/11. This was an idea created by the owner of the above listed website in hopes of getting enough bloggers to honor each and every person who was killed in the 9/11 attacks on our country. Visit that website to see who else is honoring the victims. Let's honor as many victims as we can on the 5th anniversary of this horrible attack on our nation. (This is a sticky post and will remain on top until sometime after the 11th...other new posts will be below it.)

LEONARD RAGAGLIA

Fire Fighter

World Trade Center Victim

Little did I know when I woke up on the morning of September 11, 2001 what an impact that day would have on me and everyone in America....forever.

It was just a normal day for me. I woke up, got ready to go to work, and take my stepson to daycare for the day. When driving from his daycare to my office, I heard the astonishing news that an airplane had crashed into the World Trade Center. At first, I just assumed it was a horrible plane accident until moments later, I heard about the second plane crashing into the other World Trade Center Tower. The rest of the day, workers in my office did nothing but keep glued to their computers and various news websites to keep updated on the terrible events happening throughout our country. It was a terrifying day. But as terrifying as it was for all of us hearing about the events, imagine how much more terrifying it had to have been for those living the events. Those trapped in the WTC, those trapped in a plane, those at the Pentagon. None of us that are still here can even begin to fathom the feelings of terror that must have washed through these people as they realized what was happening. Maybe some of them never did know what was happening.

Among the people who became victims of this tragedy was Leonard Ragaglia; a firefighter on Engine 54, a former police office for the 5th precinct. A family man; a father, a son, a husband, and friend. On this momentous occasion, I honor him.

Leonard Ragaglia came from a very large family. He was one of 11 children; the oldest boy. Those who knew him best described him as a "natural leader", a hard worker with a contagious sense of humor. A former co-worker of Leonard's, (Lenny to his friends) Larry Wiltbank referred to Lenny's sense of humor as "Lenonics" because of his propensity to make up words and sayings of his own. "Whattaya got" was one of his favorites, according to his wife Donna Ragaglia, and was often used as a greeting, or a "hello".

Leonard had a passion for sports and despite being a "New Yorker", his passions were for The Mets, The Dallas Cowboys and the Islanders.

Leonard graduated from McKee High School and shortly after joined the NYPD in 1985. While on the police force, he received several medals for excellence and meritorious duty.

He was a police office for nine years and entered the fire academy in 1993 . His father, Leonard Ragaglia, Sr., was also a fireman, and the younger Leonard wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. At the time of the World Trade Center attack, Leonard was working for Engine 54 and is one of 15 fire fighters from that Engine that went missing or were killed.

In 1995, Leonard received the Father Julian F. Deeken memorial medal from the Fire Department.

Leonard was very much a family man to his wife, Donna and his two sons, Lenny Jr. (age 10) and Anthony (age 7). He thoroughly enjoyed playing sports and video games with his two sons and enjoyed taking them to all of their sporting events.

Leonard is survived by his wife Donna, his two sons (Lenny Jr and Anthony) and ten siblings: Maureen Scparta and Christine Durante (of Campbell Hall, New York), Janice Pucciarella, Linda Taccetta, Debra Ragaglia, Colleen Ragaglia and Lauren Ragaglia (all of Staten Island) Paul (of Orlando) and Danny and Stephen (of Staten Island).

Right about the time I began researching Mr. Ragaglia for my tribute to him, I received an email from a man named Tom Donahue. Mr. Donahue has somewhat of a connection to Mr. Ragaglia and his family through the schools both of their children attended. I would like to share a portion of his email and the picture he refers to in his email to me:

"I am a parent of two children (now
former) that attended St. Theresa Catholic School in Des Moines,
Iowa.
Each year the 6th grade class holds a basketball tournament to
benefit some charity of the kids choosing. After doing some research and
wanting desperately to assist the family of a victim of the attacks on September
11, 2001 the kids found out that two of Mr. Ragaglia sons attended St Teresa
Catholic School on Staten island. After several emails and phone calls to
the principal (Mrs. Dempsey) it was decided to hold the tourney in Mr.
Ragaglias's honor. The kids worked very hard and raised over $8000 toward
the boys tuition at St Teresa. Mrs. Ragaglia sent us a large photograph of
Mr. Ragaglia along with a beautiful letter thanking the students. The
framed photograph is displayed in our trophy case. As the kids walk by
that photograph of a fireman from New York, they are reminded of the
sacrifice of so many heroes during, and since, that horrific
day. "

Below is a picture of Mr. Ragaglia in the trophy case that Mr. Donahue sent me. What a wonderful tribute to him and his family, and what a great reminder to all who travel those halls now and in the future to never forget Leonard, or any others who are victims of the senseless tragedy.

Mr. Ragaglia, although I never knew you, or any of the others who were victims of the 9/11 attacks, I feel I have gotten to know you through researching you. I applaud you and your courageousness, your dedication and your selflessness. We remember you on the 5th anniversary of the attacks. You are not forgotten. You will never be forgotten.