St. Mary's Dedicates New Memorial to 9/11 First Responder

A local hero’s memorial that was damaged by vandals last year on the grounds of St. Mary’s Catholic Church has been replaced, and on Monday, parishioners and priests gathered to bless both the new statue and the memory of a fallen friend.

The winged bronze statue of St. Michael was erected in honor of Harold J. “Smitty” Smith, an NYPD Sergeant and 9/11 first responder who died a year ago yesterday of cancer his doctors said was caused by his months working in the rubble of the towers.

His family said it was one of his final wishes to have a statue of the patron saint of police officers placed at the church after he died. But last October, the bronze archangel was badly damaged. Police suspect , which were found nearby.

“Vandalism is never a good thing, but I believe in this case, maybe it was providential,” Monsignor Ken Tuzeneu said to a small crowd of parishioners who gathered for a new dedication after a special Mass yesterday. 

The previous memorial stood about head height; now, a 6-foot, solid bronze St. Michael stands on a pedestal with flowers at his feet. The statue arrived from a supplier in Italy a few weeks ago, and the church decided to honor the anniversary of Smith’s passing with the special ceremony.

“Maybe Smitty had a hand in it,” Tuzeneu said, drawing laughs. “He’s looking down saying, ‘Now you got the right size.’”

But despite the smiles, the dedication was a somber affair. Smith’s widow Margie and their three children stood quietly with friends as Tuzeneu and two others sprinkled the statue with holy water and Tuzeneu read the beatitudes.

“Blessed are those who mourn,” he said, “for they will be comforted.”

Comfort has been a long time coming for Margie Smith. She said it felt good to have the memorial back, but her grief hasn’t gone away. She still takes life one day at a time.

“You don’t ever get over it, when you had someone who was your shield like that,” she said.