FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Thursday, September 13, 2001

DASNY Honors Nations Loss of Family, Friends and Heroes

The Dormitory Authority today began flying the largest American flag we could find from the roof of its corporate headquarters in Albany to show support for our nation at this time of mourning.

Thomas J. Murphy, Executive Director, told the staff the 15-by-25-foot flag represents your support and the Authoritys for our nations strength in this time of national tragedy, love of our country and sorrow for individual loss of family, friends and heroes. The flag faces Interstate 787, one of the busiest highways in the Capital District. In addition, the Authority routinely flies the American and New York State flags outside the front of its headquarters, which faces Broadway in downtown Albany.

We have witnessed a tragedy of unparallel proportion in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, Mr. Murphy said of the September 11 tragedy. I know we have all been affected greatly by this horror. While all DASNY staff have been accounted for, as well as many of the business associates we work with regularly, many of our DASNY family wait to hear from family, relatives and friends who worked at the Towers. Our thoughts, hearts and prayers go out to them in their time of anxiety and grief.

Mr. Murphy said he has alerted the State Emergency Management Office to the many Dormitory Authority employees who have volunteered their services. Right now, we have been asked to identify space to relocate key government agencies and others whose offices were destroyed in the attacks, he said.

Governor George E. Pataki spoke to the State Senate and Assembly this afternoon about the September 11th terrorist attack, saying, New Yorkers have always stood strong, firm and together in times of crisis and human hardship. Already, we've seen the extraordinary heroism of our firefighters, police officers, emergency service workers, and everyday citizens. We've seen the indomitable spirit of New Yorkers, pulling together to overcome the most horrendous, destructive and murderous act of terrorism in history.

We owe a deep debt of gratitude for the heroism of the thousands who have been risking and continue to risk their lives to help with the relief effort. We thank President Bush for the extraordinary aid he has provided. And we owe profound thanks to Mayor Giuliani, and to his team, for the tremendous leadership they have shown.

Governor Pataki said, The forces of evil that committed this atrocity have caused pain that will last for generations, pain that has claimed the lives of innocent men, women and children. But evil never prevails. Freedom, despite its vulnerabilities, will always prevail.

As many Americans have, DASNY employees have given blood and donated funds to help the families of the firefighters, police officers and other emergency workers whose lives were lost in the tragedy.

For more information, contact Press Officer Claudia Hutton at (518) 257 3382, or CHutton@dasny.org. To read all Governor Patakis statements on the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, go to http://www.state.ny.us/ and click on Governors Press Releases.

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