By CHARLOTTE MENTZER
FORT WADSWORTH

There were many Staten Island residents who lost their lives in the attack.

The first responders were stationed at Mount Manresa during the aftermath of the attack on 9/11. They tracked the dust and debris from the World Trade Center to Mount Manresa every day during the weeks and months after 9/11.

This makes the grounds of Mount Manresa sacred; they should not be touched and a memorial should be dedicated to their sacrifice.

The first responders’ sacrifice is that they are facing many health issues, which were directly caused by their dedication at Ground Zero.

Subsequent to the 9/11 attacks, Mount Manresa was used as a staging ground for various emergencies, including Hurricane Sandy. Many of the FEMA responders were stationed there along with many displaced residents.

All Staten Island residents need to demand that Mount Manresa be converted to our memorial to the World Trade Center attack and not be converted to townhouses.

This is such a disgrace to the memory of the people who lost their lives in 9/11 and the first responders who are now facing such health issues related to their dedication to the cleanup of the World Trade Center site.