20th Anniversary of 9/11
Twenty Years Later: John Jay College Of Criminal Justice Continues To Honor The 67 Heroes Lost On 9/11

(New York, NY)—As the Twin Towers burned on 9/11, Ronald P. Bucca, a Fire Marshall with the FDNY and graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, made his way up to the 78th floor of the South Tower hoping to help people trapped inside. Like so many others, he didn’t make it out.

Now, 20 years later, his son, also named Ronald ‘Ron’ Bucca tells his dad’s story, a living legacy that illuminates the many acts of heroism that day.

“They were trying to put more water on the fire and my dad was providing first aid to the people who had been injured. All that training and all that education, everything culminated in this one moment in his life,” said Ron. “Later, they found him in like a pocket [of space] by a stairwell. His coat was on a lady he was trying to save.” [Read about Ronald P. Bucca]

Bucca was one of 67 alumni John Jay College lost on 9/11. Their names are etched in granite alongside the permanent memorial that stands on campus, a twisted beam that had supported the North Tower.

On this 20th anniversary, the College is hosting a series of events to commemorate their sacrifice and examine the legacy of 9/11. Among them are academic discussion, volunteer service, a flag planting, and a virtual ceremony held Friday, September 10 at 12:00 noon [https://www.youtube.com/user/CUNYJohnJay].

The ceremony features first person recollections from John Jay heroes and survivors as well as reading of the names of those lost in the tragedy.

“For many of our students, September 11th is a sad day in history, but not a lived experience. Many are too young to have experienced the fear, uncertainty, and sense of loss felt in the aftermath,” said John Jay College President Karol V. Mason. “Every John Jay student, faculty, staff, and alumni member is inextricably linked to the 67 heroes that we lost that day. We have been honoring their legacy since then and will continue to do so by studying how to protect our country, by keeping our communities safe, and by offering a helping hand to those in need.”

This legacy also lives on through Erin Coughlin a member of the NYPD, who was in high school when her father Sgt. John Coughlin, a student at John Jay became one of 23 NYPD officers who lost their lives that day. John was part of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit. He died on the 20th floor of the South Tower while trying to get people out of the building.

“They just knew that the building was chockfull of humanity—from the dishwashers, to the window washers, to CEOs, business people, and people visiting. There were people in those buildings and other human beings went in to get them out,” said Erin, reflecting on her father’s last moments. [Read about John Coughlin]

Taking an academic look at the complex legacy of 9/11, John Jay’s Center on Terrorism, which was established immediately following 9/11, is hosting the symposium, 9/11 After 20 Years: Causes, Consequences, and Enduring Challenges on Thursday, September 9. [Online Registration]

Events scheduled to mark 9/11 include:

  • Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m.: 9/11 After 20 Years: Causes, Consequences, and Enduring Challenges
  • Sept. 9, 12:30 p.m.: John Jay Flag Planting Tradition
  • Sept. 10, 12:00 p.m.: 9/11 Embodied Remembrance: Connecting to the Past, Cultivating Presence and Leading with Courage, Wholeness and Ease
  • Sept. 10, 12:00 p.m.: 9/11 20th Anniversary Virtual Ceremony
  • Sept. 11, Intrepid Museum: In-Person Volunteer Service: 9/11 Meal Packathon
  • Sept. 13, 5:30 p.m.: Virtual Volunteer Service: COVID Food Relief in Honor of 20th Anniversary of 9/11
  • Sept. 13, 6:00 p.m.: The Legacy of September 11, 2001: Alumni Testimonials

 

Information on all these events can be found at: http://johnjay.jjay.cuny.edu/911memorial/2021/index.html.

About John Jay College of Criminal Justice
An international leader in educating for justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York is a Hispanic Serving Institution and Minority Serving Institution offering a rich liberal arts and professional studies curriculum to 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 135 nations. John Jay is home to faculty and research centers at the forefront of advancing criminal and social justice reform. In teaching, scholarship and research, the College engages the theme of justice and explores fundamental human desires for fairness, equality and the rule of law. For more information, visit www.jjay.cuny.edu and follow us on Twitter @JohnJayCollege.