Men Work for Peace and Good Will in Wake of 9/11 Attacks.

By Genevieve Quinn

Looking around, all Brian Kavanagh could see was dust, dirt, and smoke. Then came one of the most beautifully haunting things he had ever witnessed. Before him a monarch butterfly, fluttering peacefully, oblivious to the horror and destruction that surrounded it on that New York City street, the morning of September 11th, 2001.

Joseph Spalluto was driving to his daughter’s middle school in West Hartford, Conn., when he heard the news that a commercial jet had struck the north tower of the World Trade Center. Seventeen minutes after the first plane hit, a second struck the south tower, where Spalluto’s work office was located.

Both men were transformed by the events of that day. While most Americans remember what they were doing on September 11th, few can relate to the chilling experiences of Brian Kavanagh and Joseph Spalluto, two ordinary people who found themselves facing the worst horrors imaginable.

Kavanagh, 65, a peace activist from Hartford, Conn., had spent over a month in New York City, participating in a 40 day liquid fast to protest United States involvement in Iraq. The activists would gather each day in front of the United Nations Building, distributing posters and leaflets to raise awareness.

“It was a beautiful September day, just gorgeous. The sky was clear blue.”, said Kavanagh.

Though something didn’t seem right. A bunch of police officers were holding radios to their ears, listening intently. People in front of the U.N building started yelling, and as he looked down 1st Avenue, all he could see were flashing lights and hear the sound of sirens.

He spoke to a police officer, and learned the shocking news. Kavanagh then walked towards 5th Avenue.

“It was like a volcanic eruption. And so strange, the contrast from the smoke and haze on one side of the city with the clear blue sky on the other.”

Then there was the monarch butterfly, “horrific that this beautiful jewel should exist amongst everything.”

Kavanagh then knew he had to get out of the city. After hours of walking, switching trains, and mind numbing fear, he arrived in New Haven, Conn., exhausted and in a daze, a daze that hasn’t completely lifted seven years later.

Kavanagh also saw one of his life missions die that day. As soon as he heard that Islamic/Arab groups were suspected in the attacks, anger overwhelmed him. He had spent many years trying to advocate for the people of the Middle East, raising awareness towards the sanctions in Iraq and various other issues.

“In one swoop, all our hard work was gone. They’ve never had a chance since.”

Kavanagh believes that any chance of peace between the U.S and the Middle East and U.S aid for the suffering there was gone with the collapse of the towers.

“I don’t like to think about it much.”

Kavanagh admits he still hasn’t come to grips with everything that happened that day, and the experiences he faced will always haunt him. He continues his activism work and quest to promote peaceful relations in the world.

Joseph Spalluto, 49, has worked for the company Keefe Bruyette & Woods Inc., for 27 years. The company had offices in the South Tower of the World Trade Center, on the 88th and 89th floors. United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the tower, hitting the 78th through the 85th floors.

On September 11th Spalluto wasn’t in New York. His wife, Ellen Spalluto, insisted that he be in the Hartford area early that evening for a retirement party for his father in law. This turned out to be a surprise party celebrating Spalluto’s 20th anniversary with the company.

What should have been a day of celebration turned into a day of shock and horror. Spalluto came to learn that 67 of his colleagues had been killed. Had he been in his office that day, he would have been working three floors above where United Flight 175 hit.

“Clearly the events of that day affected me and my work and my memories forever,” he said.
The chilling thoughts of what could have happened to him that day have taught him many lessons.
“Things can change and you can never replace your family and loved ones.”
Spalluto has learned to not make work such a priority, and to focus on family, friends, and living life.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods was relocated to 787 7th Ave. “Midtown-as opposed to downtown, since the scars of seeing that site each day was more than we wanted to put people through.”
They also chose to stay as low to the ground as possible, choosing the 4th and 5th floors.
Spalluto has dedicated a lot of his time to honor those lost that day through MyGoodDeed.org, an organization seeking to make September 11 a national day of volunteerism.

Each anniversary the members of the firm get together and volunteer, and they also visit a memorial dedicated to their 67 lost colleagues, located in the Central park zoo.