‘I hung onto my faith’

By Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic

Photography: MARLENE QUARONI | FC

MIAMI | Every three weeks, Ian Grey, the president of a health care consulting firm, traveled on business from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles. He always took a morning flight out of Dulles International Airport. On Sept. 11, 2001, his wife, Maria Grey, heard news reports that a Los Angeles-bound airplane was missing. She feared the worst.

“My husband was on American Airlines flight 77, which crashed into the Pentagon,” said Grey after a Blue Mass at St. Hugh Church marking the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The Blue Mass is celebrated annually for those who serve in public safety, such as police officers and firefighters. St. Hugh’s Knights of Columbus Council 16216 organized the event at the Coconut Grove church.

Sept. 11, now called Patriot Day, has become a memorial of the tragic events that occurred and those who were killed.

One of them was Ian Grey, whose plane took off at 8:10 a.m. Just before 9 a.m., five men hijacked the Boeing 757. They set the plane back on a course toward Washington, D.C., where it was crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., killing all 64 passengers and 125 people in the building.

On the same morning, two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center’s Buildings One and Two, and another hijacked plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa.

“I’m glad that 9/11 is always remembered,” said Grey, a native of Venezuela who is now retired and living in Miami. “I thank God for helping me get through what happened that day. I hung onto my faith.”

At the time, her only child, a son, was serving as a fighter pilot on the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. He traveled from Japan to be with her. He now works for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Grey thanked the St. Hugh Knights for organizing the memorial event.

“This is very good for me,” she said. “It’s just a weird day for me. If it wasn’t for the Knights, I would have had a rotten day.”

Before Mass, the congregation recited the Pledge of Allegiance. They also sang the national anthem and “God Bless America.” Boy Scouts processed down the main aisle carrying the American and Vatican flags, and a fire truck was parked outside, with firefighters showing children their firefighting equipment.

Father Damian Flanagan, St. Hugh’s parochial vicar, said the celebration of the Blue Mass is a reminder that evil didn’t triumph over good. He paid tribute to the first responders present at the Mass.

“We honor those who put their lives on the line every day,” said Father Flanagan. “Thank you. We know this country has seen difficulties. We want to let you know that we honor and appreciate your service. Every day, you protect our families and communities. You are our heroes.”

The congregation stood up and applauded.

Father Flanagan invoked the intercession of the angels and saints, especially St. Michael the Archangel, patron saint of police, and St. Florian, patron saint of firefighters. The first responders also were given a special blessing.

In addition, Father Flanagan thanked City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado and City of Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez for their attendance at the Mass.

Mayor Regalado called the Blue Mass an important ceremony.

“Most importantly, we have a duty to remember the day the world changed,” he said. “The first option to avoid future events such as 9/11 is to pray.”

Father Flanagan asked that the congregation unite in the fight against evil.

“May the Lord defend our first responders,” he said. “May God bless you and may God bless America.”