Carlos Morales was a member of the New York Police Department (NYPD) when the Twin Towers were hit on September 11, 2001. He was part of a unit of a dozen NYPD members who responded. When they arrived Morales stopped to assist a woman who lie injured in the street. The other 11 went in. None returned. Morales was the only survivor.
Carlos Morales’ brother, Dr. Wilson Morales, is senior pastor at Encounter Christian Center in Charlotte Hall and chaplain for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office. The church was the venue Thursday for the Third Annual Southern Maryland Law Enforcement Blessing. That fateful day in 2001 was on everyone’s mind at the event.
Pastor Morales told the Baynet that 9/11 had an “amazing effect” on his brother, who is now retired. He goes to each annual memorial and thinks about what happened all the time. Pastor Morales called his brother when he heard of the death of Osama bin Laden. “I think it the closing of a chapter. It was a very important moment,” is how his brother reacted to the news.
Charles County Sheriff’s Office Commander of the Security Services Section Lt. Stephen Salvas told of one of the 72 law enforcement casualties of 9/11, Fred Marone, the superintendent of police for the New York Port Authority. Marone was at his office in New Jersey and rushed to the World Trade Center. Salvas described Marone as a very religious person who went to Mass several times a week and prayed over every important decision he had to make.
Marone, 63, entered the fiery inferno and started to climb the steps, a floor at a time. He assisted people who were escaping but continued to ascend. He was last seen on the 45th floor, still climbing and still trying to save people. “He was killed in action. Fred Marone was an honorable man,” Lt. Salvas said.
The commander also noted that those who died on 9/11 were faithful to their calling as police officers. “In the 10 years since then unfortunately many other have also died,” he added.
During the ceremony candles were lit at a memorial for the 72 fallen officers from September 11. Also plaques of thanks were handed out to representatives of each police agency in Southern Maryland: the sheriff’s offices and their correctional divisions, the state police and their aviation division, natural resources police and the fire marshal’s office.
The ceremony was coordinated by Gwen Bankins of the Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center. The center was formerly called the Stephanie Roper Center, named for a young woman who was murdered in St. Mary’s County. He mother Roberta Roper took up the cause of victim’s rights and has been an advocate ever since.
Bankins noted the increasingly difficult job law enforcement members encounter. “It’s just getting rough out there.” She said many members of the community have no idea what law enforcement faces every day.
Bankins pledged her support. She said, “If there is anything else you need, we’ll find i
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