Last night, Martha and I had the honor and privilege of attending Bobby Caron's Retirement Celebration as Deputy Chief of The Port Authority Police after 35 years of law enforcement and dedicated public service. It was quite an affair! Over 500 people attended the celebration at Terrace On The Park --- the former setting for the 1964 World's Fair. The night’s festivities began with an introduction by the Master of Ceremonies, Vince De Mentri, a former newscaster for New York’s Channel 2 CBS-TV and currently the anchorman for NBC News in Philadelphia. The Port Authority’s Police Honor Guard draped New York and New Jersey State flags and our Country’s Old Glory while "The Star Spangled Banner" was sung with reverence and fervor. The introductory ceremony was capped by The Port Authority’s Bag Pipe Corps, which provided an emotional rendition of "God Bless America".

Bobby was honored for his professionalism, honesty, integrity, dedication, and unselfish devotion to the people in the New York Metropolitan area. During his career at the Port, Bobby was awarded twenty-two medals. Among those conferred were the Silver Star for Distinguished Service, The Port Authority’s second highest award, as well as the Police Commendation Medal for his outstanding service during 911. US Secret Service, FBI, District Attorney for Queens County, New York State Police and several other important government and law enforcement dignitaries attested to Bob’s brilliant career as a public servant.

For those that didn’t know him, Bobby grew up on 15^th street between seventh and eight avenues. He attended St. Francis Xavier Grammar School, Cardinal Hayes High, and later graduated from Adelphi College while working at the Port. Bobby played stickball, baseball, basketball and roller hockey with the guys on 15th street.

Like so many other guys in the neighborhood (Mike Cordero, Joe Dean, Tony Labadie, Frankie Neira, Jimmy Napuli [The View From Ground Zero], and Mike Sullivan) Bobby decided on a life of public service.

While hearing about all of the accolades bestowed on Bob, I couldn’t help but think about another good and valiant friend, John Seravalli who unselfishly gave up his life for our Country on February 28^th, 1967 in Tay Ninh, South Viet Nam. I am sure that John was looking down from heaven with a big smile --- another good guy from the neighborhood.

For those that are his close friends, he is such an understated and modest guy—typical of the guys we know above. I never realized how much of an affect Bobby had on all our lives on September 11^th, 2001. What the public doesn’t know is that it was Bobby Caron’s decision that led to the ultimate shut down of all airports throughout the world beginning on that Day of Infamy.

At 9:03 a.m. on September 11^th, 2001 United’s Flight 175 from Boston crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center --- the second commercial aircraft to smash into the Twin Towers. Bobby realized immediately that it was necessary to stop all flights arriving or departing to or from New York airports in an effort to stop these terrorists.

Bobby’s hunch was that these events were not just accidents but pre-meditated and planned actions to attack America.

Bobby directed and coordinated the lockdown of all three airports in the New York Metropolitan Area by setting up a conference call with Port Authority Officials and the three airport managers. JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia were closed on September 11^th and did not re-open until September 13^th. The reason for the two-day shutdown was due to the large volume of people departing and the time necessary to contact all of the airlines. Further, time was needed by our intelligence teams to question the alleged terrorists.

The effect of those actions caused the stoppage of all aircraft throughout the US and ultimately the world. It is the first time in American History that this had ever happened. But the real story doesn’t stop here.

As a consequence of the closures of JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports, airports throughout the US were unable to keep their flight schedules and were forced to also shut down. When word drifted down to Washington that New York Airports were in a lockdown, Officials in Washington wanted to know who was responsible for that decision. US Secretary of Transportation, Norman Mineta, found out. Bobby responded, "I am Bobby Caron and am responsible for the New York/New Jersey Port Authority Police at JFK". Bobby explained his rationale for the lockdown. His response was concise, right to the point, and extremely persuasive. If we don’t initiate lockdowns at all US Airports we will never stop these terrorists from continuing their villainous attempts at using US commercial aircraft as guided missiles to destroy strategic targets in America. He had the guts and the courage to follow his convictions.

At 9:25 a.m. the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration followed Bobby’s decisive recommendation. All domestic flights were grounded.

Thanks to Bobby's call, hundreds, if not thousands, of American lives were spared. Furthermore, because of the lockdown, air travel in the US was in suspended animation. US Intelligence discovered that the Terrorist Organization didn’t know how to re-book their flights. And as a result of tremendous teamwork amongst local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, lists of known terrorists believed to be residing in the US were matched against U.S. airline reservation master files. This resulted in the capture of over 400 terrorists----a truly amazing story.

Once again, this is a story that should be reported about guts and glory from one our guys from Chelsea/Greenwich Village. I was very proud to be a long-time friend of Bob and I was proud to be a Chelsea guy, a New Yorker and most of all an American.

Bobby, all of us thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You are a Chelsea/Greenwich Village Hall of Famer.