Island of Hope, Island of Tears by Ronan Tynan

A few days after 9/11, on Sunday, I attended a mass at the St Martin Of Tours Catholic church in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I was keeping company with the families and members of FDNY's Squad 252 that had lost a group of its members. My husband was a member of 252 and a survivor.

The Mayor, the Archbishop and other VIPs attended the mass. Whatever was said, I can't remember. Everything is blured as we were all in shock. The only thing that stays with me to this day is the music. I remember Ronin Tynan singing with the chorus of the local Catholic school Amazing Grace, Ave Maria, God Bless America, etc. And, as everybody was exiting the church I heard for the first time the Ellis Island hymn Island of Hope Island of Tears.

Island of Hope, Island of Tears will always remind me of that time.

Joelle Ballonzoli