SHORE ROAD STRIDER CHRONICLES, January, 2002

A Very Special Sojourn By MARGO LONG
Marathon 2001 in New York City turned out to be a very special day. When I first started out doing marathons, people told me that you will always remember your first time crossing the finish line. No other Marathon will be quite like it. Well, that turned out to be half true in my case. I do remember my first, but I will also remember all of the others for different reasons. I want to take a few minutes to share with you why 2001 was so special. September 11 made it a very special day. We were all New York City marathoners on Nov 4, showing the world and ourselves that we were not going to give in to terrorism. The crowds were wonderful, waving the American flags and cheering for us. It made you proud to be there, running in this special race. I was very lucky because two special friends of mine asked me if I would run in a memorial shirt for the guys from FDNY Engine Company 226. Tommy Casatelli and Jack Halaby are New York City Firemen in Engine 226 and they are my neighbors and friends. They lost six guys from their house. I was so very proud to wear that shirt in loving memory of Brian McAleese, Stan Smagala, Dave DeRubbio, Lt. Bob Wallace, Mike Boyle and Dave "Budda" Arce. The last two guys had just passed through their house, but were both marathon runners. As I ran through the streets, all of the firehouses along the route were there and when they saw my shirt, they yelled and cheered. It was the look in their eyes that made me realize early in the race that this was a day I was never going to forget. I must have hugged at least 200 firemen. They were so happy to see me. All I could hear was - go for it 226. I felt as if finally I could say a small thank you to the FDNY for all of the sacrifices that they made on September 11. When I finished the race, I felt really great and I felt as if I could keep on going. I think that was thanks to the extra help I got from six men - Brian, Stan, Dave, Bob, Mike and Dave. As I was running, I felt as if I was getting to know them better. One other story from that day. As I was in Brooklyn, I saw a runner with a shirt from Rescue Five. I caught up to him and asked him if he knew the captain from that squad, Capt. Kevin Dowell. He said yes. So I told him my story about how Kevin Dowell was indirectly responsible for my meeting a special person in my life - Richard Dyer. He was so excited to hear the story and he told me that he could not wait to go back and tell the guys in Rescue Five. Capt. Kevin Dowell lost his life on Spetember 11. Marathon 2001 was a privilege to run. Sure the challenge was there, but the feeling of helping people to be proud of their country and being able to say thank you to the FDNY was, by far, more important.

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