Flags at the Hillsborough municipal complex were lowered to half-staff Tuesday in response to the tragedies that unfolded at the World Trade Center in New York City, and at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., earlier that morning.
By:Alec Moore
"I never thought I’d see the day when F-16 fighters would be patrolling American airspace," said Mayor Joseph Tricarico, reflecting on seeing an American fighter jet flying over Hillsborough.
"It just leaves a sick and angry feeling in the pit of my stomach," the mayor said regarding the tragedy. He pointed out that although meetings scheduled for Tuesday night were canceled, municipal business resumed without interruption on Wednesday, largely as a testament to the fortitude of the American people. He said that despite the horrors committed Tuesday, America and its people would not be deterred, or frightened, and would continue on.
"You can’t fight an ideal with weapons," Mayor Tricarico said, expressing his view that the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon were attacks against the ideals of freedom and liberty that America stands for.
Mayor Tricarico added that at a time such as this partisan politics are cast aside and everyone should do his best to help those in need by donating blood and channeling their emotions into a positive direction.
Hillsborough was among hundreds of other communities in the tri-state area that quickly volunteered whatever support and assistance they could to help in the aftermath of what occurred at the World Trade Center.
Seven emergency medical technicians from the Hillsborough Rescue Squad brought two ambulances into New York City Tuesday. The two crews waited on standby just a few blocks from the World Trade Center buildings, but their services were not called upon.
"A number of our members have volunteered to go in again if needed," said Hillsborough Rescue Squad Chief David Gwin.
Chief Gwin noted that when the HRS received the call from the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management to join the county contingent of emergency medical personnel that would be lending assistance to New York City rescue workers, members of the HRS immediately went to South Plainfield to retrieve one of their ambulances that had just been serviced there.
Chief Gwin noted that while the two HRS units were in New York City, the remainder of the squad offered to cover whatever neighboring towns might need assistance since most had sent at least one ambulance to assist with the crisis.
Mayor Tricarico, Superintendent of Schools Robert Gulick and Police Chief Robert Gazaway made the decision early Tuesday not to close the schools since many parents may not have been home to pick up or look after their kids.

