New World Trade Center memorial honors Port Authority employees killed in 1993, 9/11 attacks

A new memorial was installed at Ground Zero to honor the dozens of Port Authority employees who were killed in the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, some of whom were from Long Island.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the World Trade Memorial Fund installed the statue just ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11. It is located by the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church near the Port Authority headquarters at 4 World Trade Center, and also pays homage to those who worked on recovery efforts and later died of related illnesses.

"As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, all of New York continues to mourn the 84 Port Authority public servants who lost their lives that day as well as the six who lost their lives in 1993," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "This memorial is a fitting tribute and will provide loved ones and Port Authority colleagues a space of remembrance and reflection."

The memorial was designed to replicate a previous monument honoring those killed in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, which was destroyed on 9/11. The statue is a 10-foot tall stainless steel rendition of the Twin Towers, with a black granite base inscribed with the names of agency employees who were killed.

"The Port Authority employees honored in this memorial showed extraordinary courage in the face of the worst attacks on our nation, and paid the ultimate price for their service," New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said in a statement. "This memorial will ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten and that future generations understand the profound gratitude we have for these heroes."

Of the six people killed in the 1993 bombing, two were from Long Island. Among them was Monica Rodriguez Smith, of Seaford, who was just weeks away from giving birth to a baby boy. Rodriguez Smith was a mechanical unit secretary for the Port Authority.

"It was her last day of work before she was to give birth of a baby, and so our lives were at the pinnacle," her then-husband, Edward Smith, said at a past memorial event.

Nearly 40 Port Authority police officers and commanders were killed on 9/11. Among them were Officer Clinton Davis, of Massapequa; Officer George G. Howard, of Hicksville; Officer Paul W. Jurgens, of Levittown; Captain Kathy Mazza, of South Farmingdale; Officer Antonio J. Rodrigues, of Port Washington and Officer Walwyn W. Stuart, of Valley Stream.