New MetroCards Highlight 9/11 Memorial Glade

On May 15, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) will issue 250,000 limited edition MetroCards in honor of the dedication of the 9/11 Memorial Glade on May 30. The cards will be available at 10 stations throughout New York City, largely concentrating around the World Trade Center and highly trafficked stations in midtown Manhattan.

Four different cards will be in circulation, featuring photos of rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero taken by FEMA photographer Andrea Booher. The stories of the individuals featured on the cards illustrate the immense scale of the response, pulling in people from all over the country to aid in the rescue, recovery and relief efforts following the attacks.

In 2001, Mike Nugent was a Lieutenant with the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, assigned to the Technical Rescue Team and served on FEMA’s South Florida Urban Search and Rescue Team (FL-TF2). On 9/11, Mike was at Texas A&M University teaching a class to a Texas Urban Search and Rescue Team. Since flights were grounded, Mike and his FEMA team took a series of buses to New York City, reporting to the Javits Center on the Friday after the attacks and remaining for about two weeks.

Mike is now the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Special Operations Chief. He suffers from sarcoidosis, most likely as a result of his time working at Ground Zero.

Mark Bogush was a First Lieutenant with Tampa Fire Rescue and also a member of FEMA’s South Florida Urban Search and Rescue Team (FL-TF2) on 9/11. Once at Ground Zero with his team, including his K-9 partner Marley, he worked the night shift for seven days straight to search for victims’ remains. As he was walking in and out of the site, Mark would walk through an area designated for victims’ loved ones and found that Marley would always lighten their spirits. Today Mark is still with the Tampa Fire Rescue as the Assistant Fire Chief for Operations.

Daniel Armenta was a Lieutenant with the San Francisco Fire Department who volunteered at Ground Zero after 9/11. He served for 31 years with the Department, reaching the rank of Battalion Chief. Daniel passed away from bladder cancer in November 2013, believed to be a result of his firefighting career, including his response to the World Trade Center.

On 9/11, Roslyn Nieves was a NYPD Crime Prevention Specialist. She was mobilized to respond to Ground Zero the week following the attacks and worked there for several months as a security detail and helping to share information among law enforcement. Roslyn retired from the NYPD in 2004 and currently works as a host and community development manager for Queens Public Television.

The MetroCards will be available on certain lines at the following stations:

WTC Cortlandt St. (1)Grand Central - 42 St. (S, 4, 5, 6, 7)34 St. - Penn Station (1, 2, 3)Times Square - 42 St.Cortlandt St. (R, W)World Trade Center (E)Brooklyn Bridge - City Hall (4, 5, 6)Wall St. (4, 5)Rector St. (1)Jay St. - MetroTech (A, C, F, R)

Ahead of the release of the 9/11 Memorial Glade MetroCards, the New York Daily News and the New York Times have interviewed some of the featured rescue and recovery workers about their experiences at Ground Zero.

By 9/11 Memorial Staff