[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 175 (Monday, December 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E2319]]



                     HONORING JAMES MARCEL CARTIER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 17, 2001

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on this three-month anniversary of the 
September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States, I rise to honor 
James Marcel Cartier, a constituent of mine whose body still lies in 
the rubble.
  James' story is one of thousands. The second youngest child of seven 
in a close-knit Jackson Heights family, James was deeply loved by those 
who knew him. Soft-spoken, with a sunny disposition, he was quick to 
show affection, particularly towards his mother Carmen, who he adored. 
A devoted son, not a day passed when he did not visit his parents and 
inquire about their health, or run errands on their behalf.
  A die-hard New York Knicks fan, his younger brother, Michael 
remembers his great laugh, big dimples, and giant smile. Two years 
apart in age, James and Michael were inseparable. They served as alter 
boys together, worked side by side in a neighborhood pizzeria together, 
and slept in the same room in their parents' basement until two years 
ago, when they moved out with a friend into a three-bedroom apartment 
in Astoria, Queens. ``The first night there, we had trouble sleeping, 
because we weren't next to each other,'' said his brother. ``And even 
after we moved out, he still went home all the time to have dinner with 
my parents.''
  James was devoted to his nephews, Best Man at Michael's wedding, a 
phone call away from any family member or friend that needed him, James 
was as generous as he was kind.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 11th, 2001 this exemplary and sweet young 
man was working as an apprentice electrician in Local Union 3 at the 
AON Corporation on the 92nd floor of Tower Two. He had been on the job 
for two weeks.
  Despite the grave danger he was in, when news of the explosion first 
reached him, his first thoughts were of his sister Michele, who was in 
World Trade Center Tower 1. James immediately called his brother John 
to tell him something had happened to Tower 1 and to come right away to 
find their sister. John and James agreed to meet on the street, but 
while John found Michele amidst thousands of petrified survivors, James 
was never to be seen by his family again.
  James Cartier managed to speak four times with his siblings before 
the towers collapsed. Finally at 9:15, he spoke to his sister Marie 
from the 105th floor for the last time.
  ``I want you to tell Mom and Dad I love them more than anything. Make 
sure you let them know that James said he loved them.''
  When he died his father told the local papers that ``all heaven stood 
silent, as this beautiful young man was destroyed.'' His body along 
with thousands of others has yet to be found in the devastation that 
the terrorists wrought on my city that fateful day. A memorial service 
honored his life, while the ashes of the victims hung heavy over New 
York for weeks as the sky stayed dark with grief.
  Mr. Cartier is survived by his mother Carmen, his father Patrick 
Cartier, his sisters Jenny Farrell, Marie Cartier, Michele Cartier-
Granieri, and his brothers John, Michael, and Patrick Cartier, Jr. 
Their sorrow is deep and their solace is knowledge that their son and 
brother now walks with the angels.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Mr. James M. Cartier for 
his service to our country. He died doing his job as did so many that 
fateful day. May God Bless his family and his soul. Our Nation mourns 
his loss.

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