Our Third Annual Legacy of Service Honors the Work of 9/11 Family Members

On July 30, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum hosted its third annual Legacy of Service evening event. Developed to highlight the myriad ways that individuals have embraced service in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks, the event featured two 9/11 family members: Patrick Dowdell, a former U.S. Army Captain, and Patti Quigley, Board Member & Advisor, Razia’s Ray of Hope Foundation.

Patrick Dowdell’s motivation to serve in the military intensified after his father, FDNY, Lt. Kevin Dowdell was killed in the line of duty on 9/11. He graduated from West Point in 2006, the same year that his brother, James, graduated from the FDNY Academy. Dowdell deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 4th Infantry Division. During that time, he drew inspiration from his fellow soldiers who were willing to risk their lives to go to war in response to what happened on 9/11.

“I wanted to share that burden with them and let them know there were a lot of people, especially back in New York, who appreciated their sacrifice,” he said. Dowdell represents the broader military community’s connection to 9/11, especially through the lens of The Global War on Terror.

Patti Quigley’s husband Patrick was a partner at PwC and passenger on hijacked flight United Flight 175. She was eight months pregnant on 9/11, and forced to navigate her own grief while caring for her young daughter and preparing to give birth. She found solace in her community, however, and support through the resources afforded to her as a 9/11 widow. As America’s military response progressed in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks, Quigley saw parallels between her experience and the plight of Afghan widows. Deeply troubled by the disparity between their destitution and support she was afforded however, she launched the charitable foundation Beyond the 11th with fellow 9/11 widow Susan Retik in 2003. The foundation supports widows in Afghanistan affected by war and terrorism by partnering with international aid groups to provide job training.

After befriending Afghan activist and humanitarian Razia Jan in her Massachusetts community, Quigley joined Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation. She and Jan established the Zabuli Education Center, an all-girls school in a rural village outside of Kabul. Girls in Afghanistan face some of the most significant barriers to education in the world and to date, and as Board Member and Advisor to the Foundation, Quigley continues her mission to serve them today.

9/11 Museum staff had the experience of joining a call with Quigley and Jan earlier this year, which provided a privileged window into their partnership and mutual love and respect. Sadly, Ms. Jan passed away in July at the age of 81. Her powerful legacy continues to thrive through the ongoing efforts of the Ray of Hope Foundation and their unwavering advocacy for girls’ education in Afghanistan.

Both Patrick Dowdell and Patti Quigley's stories are among a collection that will be featured in the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s 25th anniversary special exhibition, presented by The Starr Foundation and set to open in Summer 2026. The exhibition will bring the 9/11 story into present day by highlighting how service in response to the attacks transformed the lives of those who answered the call to serve and those they helped, leaving lasting influence on society in numerous ways.

By 9/11 Memorial & Museum Staff