An intimate group of monks, teachers, staff and Delbarton alumni families had gathered in the garden to greet Jon and his cross. Father Giles offered an emotional few words and proffered his blessing. Tim Soulas, Class of 2008, honored us with his kind presence; his father was among those lost on that day. Craig Paris related his profound connection to an alum who also perished in the attacks: ‘Four days before Brian entered Delbarton his father passed away,’ he said. ‘Please take care of him his sister asked me. And I did. I watched over him for four years...’ For many, ten years on, the ache still remains. Jon spoke of community, of Delbarton’s commitment to reach out to all people regardless of religion or race – one of the fundamental ideas behind his memorial. ‘This cross,’ he explained, ‘symbolizes sacrifice. The people who ran into those buildings weren’t trying to save Christians or Jews or Muslims, they were trying to save people. Just as this cross is made up of different parts, our country on that day came together as one. Whatever else anyone was, we were all Americans.’ Jon brought his memorial and its message
to hundreds more people throughout the area before bringing it back to Boonton once more for its final preparations. On the evening of August 10th the cross was escorted into Manhattan by two dozen firemen on motorcycles. Through the night Jon sweat blood as he polished steel and drilled holes in cement and raced against time. At five in the morning this product of his passions was raised and set in place. The St. Peter 9-11 Cross was finally home. At six o’clock in the evening of August 11th Jon stood beneath his cross, in front of family, friends, old classmates and new acquaintances, all gathered to witness the culmination of a long and emotional journey. ‘When people look at this,’ Jon said, ‘I hope people remember the sacrifices people made that day. I hope they look at the world around them and think for a moment about what their own sacrifice will be.’ Through his own tireless effort and his immutable passion, this is the message Jon was able to bring to thousands of people across the country. And this, perhaps, is what Jon has given to the innumerable people who will look upon this cross in the decades to come.
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