In Loving Memory of GEORGE GERARD HOWARD Port Authority of New York/New Jersey Police Officer, Hicksville NY Volunteer Fire Department Captain and Nassau County Fire Service Academy Instructor who perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center, New York City, New York September 11, 2001
New York Port Authority Police Officer George Howard was one of those courageous men and women who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.         Assigned to the JFK Airport, Emergency Service Unit, Officer Howard was safe in his home when the first jetliner crashed into the World Trade Center.  It was his day off, but that didn't stop him from rushing to the scene.  He hopped a rescue truck and was there just before the second tower crumbled.  When it did, he was killed by the avalanche. "He gave, and he gave without hesitation," said Lt. Kevin Hassett, who worked with him. In the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, Howard rappelled down an elevator shaft to rescue more than 60 students and teachers, again on his day off.  Officer Howard always said he was just a regular guy doing his job. When he was awarded the Medal of Valor for rescuing the children, he brushed it off with humor, "That's what they pay us for." Officer Howard Medal of Valor - 1993 He gave no thought to the box of medals awarded to him by the City of New York.  He knew he was lucky ... most pass through life tolerating their jobs, Officer Howard was blessed with loving his. His body was found the day of the disaster, by a detective who saw a gun sticking out of the ruins of the WTC. The gun was strapped in a holster that was strapped to George's waist.  Rescue workers gingerly carried him to a waiting ambulance.  Officer Howard's brother, Patrick, a NYC Police Officer, had the devistating job of delivering the news to their mother.

Detective Enrique Colon NYPD

Detective Colon is the officer that found Officer Howard's body on September 11th. This picture of him was taken the day of Officer Howard's wake in Long Island.

Pictures by Ed Betz, © Associated Press September 19, 2001 The funeral of Officer George Howard, a 16-year veteran of the NY/NJ Port Authority Police, and 25 year member of the Hicksville, NY Fire Department, was held at the St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church in Hicksville, NY.  As the Reverend James Devine said, "He didn't have to go, but he did anyway. George gave his life saving others."  He was laid to rest at St. Charles Cemetary. He was a founding member of the Port Authority's elite Emergency Service Unit.  Officer Howard's brother, Sgt. Patrick Howard of the New York Police Department, wrote and recited the following poem at the funeral ... In Loving Memory of Police Officer George Howard Port Authority Police Department - Emergency Service Unit - JFK International Airport Who, on Tuesday September 11, 2001 at 10:30 A.M., sacrificed his life in the hope that others would survive My Dear Brother George, Right from the start Our lives grew apart; But that was no fault of our own. It seemed all of our days Sent us our separate ways And precious times became lost. How could we ever foresee That our words and our thoughts Would be silenced at such a cost? Their cries for help, Their deathly moans, You heard them from afar. You stopped all your fun, You started to run And scurried to your car. You were off that day, It was your time for play, But ignoring the issue Would not make your par. How you made it the city so fast, No one will ever know ... I bet you barked out an order, Directed God to take over and He showed you the route to go. You knew all was not well, Still you ran towards the hell To save people you never knew. You put all their lives first, You never once feared the worst But then again, that's what Makes you, YOU!     Things looked pretty mean   When you arrived on the scene,   But you knew what you had to do ...   You jumped out of your truck,   You heard the thunder and cries,   You looked toward the skies.   The dust filled your eyes,   And God said,   "George, I'm coming for you."   But now, as for all of us here ...   Where do we find the relief   From this horrible grief?   How do we accept   That this happened to you?   In all the magazine articles you wrote,   In all the lectures you spoke,  You don’t tell us what to do.   All our times spent together   Were took for advantage,   Always thinking there’d be tomorrow,   But as you can see   All that’s left here for me   Is to hang my head in sorrow.   Tears fill up my eyes   When my last goodbyes   Don’t get a response from you.   For you once saved my life   And my Dear Brother George,   I am so, so sorry   I was not there to save you. Sgt Patrick Howard, NYPD   Officer Howard was born in St. Albans, NY and grew up on Long Island.  He graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola where he played hockey and lacrosse. He is survived by his sons, Christopher and Robert; his mother, Arlene; his brothers, Robert, Timothy and Patrick; his sister, Geri-Anne Satterfield; and his aunt, Joan Craft.
The following poem was found by Arlene Howard amongst her son's possessions.  At the time she, she didn't realize it had been written by her son for a man named Steve.  It truely describes the type of man Officer Howard himself was. A QUIET HERO Some men die a glorious death full of fanfare and fame Others die so quietly we hardly know their name It doesn't matter how they die, the void they leave is great He died a quiet hero, there really is no debate ... He saved the lives of others, snatching victory from defeat. ~ Author George G. Howard ~

While visiting with the families of the victims of the WTC disaster on September 14th, President Bush spoke with Officer Howard's sons, Christopher and Robert, and Arlene Howard presented the President her son's most prized possession, Shield #1012 of the Port Authority Police Department.  He he carries it as a reminder that his work is just beginning.
Official White House Photos
During a speech before a joint session of Congress on September 20th, the President held up Howard's shiny silver badge and said, "Some will carry memories of a face and a voice gone forever.  And I will carry this.  It is my reminder of lives that ended and a task that does not end."  In the Rose Garden a few days later he cited it again ... "The American people have got to understand that when I held up that badge, I meant it.  This war on terrorism is my primary focus."

This Port Authority Police Emergency Service Truck was designed by Officer Howard before his death and is dedicated to his memory.  Across the windshield it reads "In Loving Memory of P.O. George Howard" and bears the number 1012, which was George's PAPD Shield number.  On the driver's side is a placque in remembrance of George.  The truck is in service at the JFK Airport, where George was a friend, mentor and hero to the ESU PAPD officers. 9/11 Hero's Legacy Rolls On (copy of a New York Daily News Article - April 16, 2004) PAPD ESU Truck in the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Parade

July 19, 2003 the PAPD JFK Airport ESU Command unveiled this bronze placque in honor and remembrance of their fallen colleague, P.O. George Howard.

 

Officer Howard was not just a Police Officer ... George was appointed to the Washington, DC Fire Department on October 11, 1977, where he worked in several different firehouses and finally got an assignment in a Specialized Rescue Unit, Rescue Squad #4 of the DCFD. He resigned August 23, 1980, to return to his beloved New York City, leaving behind many co-workers and friends who still remember him being a fireman's Fireman!
Following his employment as a firefighter in our nation's capital, Howard entered the Hicksville Fire Department as a member of Emergency Company #5, where he spent a 25 year career in the volunteer fire service.  At the time of his death he had risen to the rank of Captain.  Well known for his heroic efforts, Howard was consistently in the forefront of local rescue operations, determined to save those in need, regardless of the danger to himself.
	Memorials at the Hicksville Fire Department
Whatever spare time George had between being a Port Authority Police Officer, with the Emergency Services Unit, and the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, where his passion enabled him to lend his skills in training firefighters, he devoted to the Hicksville Fire Department, where he was noted for his experience and knowledge. George was widely known throughout New York State for his rescue abilities.

When I started this memorial page and picked the name of a fallen officer to honor, I was unaware this was the officer President Bush mentioned when he held up the police officer's badge at a joint session of Congress, on September 20, 2001. I chose the name randomly because as the mother of a police officer, I wanted to honor one of the fallen officers of this tragedy. I did not know Officer Howard, nor do I know his family, but I want the family and all the officers of the NY/NJ Port Authority Police to know I am and will continue to pray for this family and this Department. I know he will be remembered and missed by all that knew and loved him.
**update 4/29/02** After being contacted earlier this year by Lt. Hassett, Officer Howard's co-worker and good friend, as well as by several members of the Howard family, I had the honor of meeting them on a recent trip to New York City.

A Family remembers and honors a fallen Hero

Official White House photo

Attending the Veterans Day Prayer Breakfast at Park Avenue Seventh Regiment Armory in New York on November 11, 2001, President Bush embraces Arlene Howard, who gave him the PAPD Shield of her son.

In honor and memory of her brother, George Howard, Geri-Anne Satterfield carried the Olympic Torch through the streets of Colorado Springs, CO on January 31, 2002
Geri-Anne before the Torch Relay	The 2002 Olympic Torch
Lighting the Torch from the previous runner	Carrying the Torch

July 19, 2002

Arlene Howard (on the left holding the flag), a member of the American Legion Auxilary and mother of PAPD Officer George Howard holds an American Flag Quilt she received in honor of her son. The quilt was hand made by Junior members of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Following in his father's footsteps, Christopher Howard, has graduated from the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, where his father, George Howard taught, and has joined the Hicksville Volunteer Fire Dept. In August 2005, Chris graduated from the FDNY Academy and is now serving the people of NYC as his father did.

A Memorial Showcase for Captain George Howard, Hicksville Fire Department, Hicksville, NY April 2003 Members of the Howard family view the Memorial Showcase for their fallen hero
Captain's Howard's sons, Robert and Christopher view the Memorial Showcase for their father	Christopher and Robert receive Memorial Placques in honor of their father from the Hicksville Fire Dept.

Eisenhower Park - Nassau County 9/11 Memorial Ground Breaking Ceremonies March 11, 2004
Escorted by President George W. Bush, on what would have been her son's 47th birthday, Arlene Howard arrives at the Eisenhower Park, Nassau County, on Long Island, NY, for the Ground Breaking Ceremonies of the 9/11 Memorial that will honor her son and other Nassau County victims killed in the WTC Disaster on 9-11-01.  Pictured with the President and Mrs. Howard is Ian Siegel, President of the 9-11 Memorial Foundation. AP Photos

Riding in 'George's Truck' in the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Parade are his sister Gerianne Satterfield, his niece Patricia Petree, his brother Tim Howard and nephew Andrew Howard.

President George W. Bush with Arlene Howard
National American Legion Convention - 2004
Nashville, Tennessee

Mrs. Howard, the mother of WTC victim, George Howard,
is also a WWII Veteran.  She served in the US Navy.

NOTE:
Mrs. Howard has become a close personal friend of President George W. Bush.
He calls her "my mother away from home."

 

The final resting place of Officer Howard
St. Charles Cemetary, Farmingdale, NY

HOWARD
GEORGE GERARD
Mar. 11, 1957   -   Sept. 11, 2001
FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS

 

Memories of George (will open in a separate window) Click on "Memories of George" to leave a Memory in his Memory Book or to leave a message for his family or to read previous messages.

 

More pages for A Day to Remember America Attacked America Still Stands Proud An Open Letter to A Terrorist America Prays A Global Tragedy Can Osama Bin Laden Come Out to Play? NY/NJ Port Authority Police Memorial Remembering the Heroes of the PAPD Remember the Heroes of Ground Zero In Memory of K-9 Sirius A K-9 Memorial Service The Hero's Cross USS New York Where was GOD? What if YOU died tonight? Patriotic Pages Cathy's World The song playing is "Amazing Grace"

 

A Note from the Webmaster: As I previously stated, when I started this webpage for Officer Howard, I didn't know him, his family or anyone in the PAPD.  After meeting his friends, co-workers, some of his family and learning all I have about him, I feel as if I almost did know him.  For that reason, on 9/11/04, I requested a rose be placed on his grave from me.  The picture to the left is that rose.  Thank you Kevin for placing it there for me! Today, knowing all I do about Officer Howard, I KNOW he was without a doubt a remarkable man, a wonderful father, a faithful friend and a mentor to his co-workers. REST IN PEACE, MY FRIEND - Cathy -

 

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