DOT 67-09 |
Contact: Olivia Alair |
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 |
Tel.: (202) 366-4570 |
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Honors Mariners Who Participated in Rescue of Passengers and Crew of USAIR Flight 1549
(New York, NY) – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today presented Merchant Marine Outstanding Achievement Medals to civilian mariners who participated in the rescue of the passengers and crew of US Airways Flight 1549. The event was held at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City, overlooking the site of the Flight 1549 crash landing on the Hudson River.
“These extraordinary men and women woke up on a cold January morning, expecting an ordinary day,” said Sec. LaHood. “Yet by the time they got to bed that night, they were true heroes. Thanks to their bravery and skill, they helped save more than a hundred lives.”
Within minutes of the crash of US Airways Flight 1549 last January, civilian mariners on the Hudson River responded to the scene and began the work of rescuing survivors from the downed aircraft. Many of the civilian vessels also volunteered to ferry New York City first responders, fire and police personnel to the crash site. Their actions helped save the lives of all 155 passengers and crew members aboard.
The Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement recognizes individuals who have made extraordinarily valuable contributions to the merchant marine. In all, 72 civilian mariners who participated in the rescue of the passengers and crew from Flight 1549 will receive medals.
On Wednesday, seven representatives from companies and private vessels involved in the rescue effort joined Sec. LaHood and other officials on-stage to receive medals in the official ceremony: Scott Keon, M/V Lt. Michael P. Murphy; Captain Vincent Lombardi, New York Waterway; Captain Ed Werber, Circle Line; Robert Giordano, New York Water Taxi; Greg Hanchrow, Staten Island Ferry; Captain Kenneth Poesl, Ken’s Marine; and Glenn Miller, Miller’s Launch.
A full list of the 72 Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement recipients is below.
Kareem Abraham, New York Water Taxi
Santo Agusta, Miller’s Launch
Michael Albury, Ken’s Marine
John Angelillo, Staten Island Ferry
Osman Berete, New York Waterway
Natale Binetti, New York Waterway
Steve Black, New York Waterway
Dave Carhart, New York Water Taxi
Justin Carter, New York Water Taxi
Pepe Carumba, New York Waterway
Britanny Catanzaro, New York Waterway
Edward Cieslak, Ken’s Marine
Adam Clark, Miller’s Launch
Danny Convery, New York Waterway
Daniel Correa, New York Water Taxi
Mark Davidoff, New York Water Taxi
Robert Dunn, New York Waterway
Rich Engel, New York Water Taxi
Gulio Farnese, New York Waterway
Tom Fitzgerald, Circle Line
Robert Ford, New York Waterway
Tom Fox, New York Water Taxi
Angel Freire, Circle Line
Andrew Galarza, New York Waterway
Robert Giordano, New York Water Taxi
Xavier Gonzalez, New York Waterway
Mohamed Gouda, New York Waterway
Martin Haines, New York Water Taxi
Greg Hanchrow, Staten Island Ferry
Harry Hawk, New York Water Taxi
Frank Illuzi, New York Waterway
Michael Jordan, New York Water Taxi
Scott Koen, M/V LT. Michael P. Murphy
Manny Liba, New York Waterway
Vincent Lombardi, New York Waterway
Chris Loughrey, Miller’s Launch
Vince Lucante, New York Waterway
Carl Lucas, New York Waterway
Ross McDonagh, New York Water Taxi
David Martin, New York Waterway
John Mason, Circle Line
Terrance Maxwell, New York Waterway
Luis Melendez, New York Water Taxi
Cosmo Mezzina, New York Waterway
Glenn Miller, Miller’s Launch
Eddie Pagan, New York Water Taxi
Gregorio Pages, New York Waterway
Tom Paladino, New York Water Taxi
Mike Pellisi, New York Water Taxi
Jason Peters, New York Waterway
Shelly Phillip, New York Water Taxi
Kenneth Poesl, Ken’s Marine
Hector Rabanes, New York Waterway
Richard Redmond, Circle Line
Wilfredo Rivera, New York Waterway
Juan Rosario, New York Waterway
Luis Salerno, New York Waterway
Roger Sander, Staten Island Ferry
Endy Santana, New York Water Taxi
Dale Shaw, New York Water Taxi
Quaseim Smith, New York Water Taxi
Ted Sondergaard, New York Water Taxi
Michael Starr, New York Waterway
Jose Torres, New York Waterway
Sven Van Vatavia, Miller’s Launch
John Veriffimo, New York Waterway
Matt Warta, New York Waterway
Ed Werber, Circle Line
John Winarski, New York Waterway
Pete Zdrakas, Circle Line
Vince Zeppie, New York Water Taxi
Gadi Zofi, Ken’s Marine
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