Tattered Jeans

"10 years, still hurts," but National September 11 Memorial helps heal the painof terrorist attacks

In the northeast corner of the North Pool, I saw a rainbow. I think it livesthere.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Firemen walk in single file into St. Patrick's Cathedral for a special serviceon the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Firemen gathered on the sidewalk, mingling and hugging one another.
Photo by Katie Oxford
That afternoon, I took a stroll through Central Park. I saw folks doing allsorts of stuff, including a small group sharing a picnic.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Each vignette shared a single theme, the continuum of life.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Exiting the park, I paused to admire a dog or two. One was a 3-year-old goldenretriever named Bobbi Quilot. “It’s Mandarin for ‘Happy,’” the owner explained.
Photo by Katie Oxford
There are many things telling about Tom Von Essen but here’s one taken right outof his book, Strong of Heart.
Photo by Katie Oxford
If brotherhood had filled the Cathedral, it was palpable outside.
Photo by Katie Oxford
Sparkling clean fire trucks in the background
Photo by Katie Oxford
In memory of 9-11 first responders
Photo by Katie Oxford

March 31, 2005 was an extraordinary day. I was in NYC traveling to Ground Zero with Tom Von Essen, the man who saw it all that awful day in September.

Tom served as the New York City’s fire commissioner from April 1996 to December 31, 2001. As for so many others on September 11, his loss was beyond measure. But I wondered if Tom’s sorrow ran the deepest. He’d lost many close friends and colleagues, all “brothers,” but imagine this and then imagine not being able to work alongside your brothers searching for those lost.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Mayor Giuliani, understandably, had needed the fire commissioner working along his side. Now, Tom had been directed to answer the call in a different way.

Remarkably, he did.

There are many things telling about Von Essen but here’s one taken right out of his book, Strong of Heart. "I always called it 'the site' or 'the Trade Center.' I never liked the expression 'Ground Zero.' It sounded too much like a catchy media phrase."

“I didn’t look to see what he had written until finally, everyone had taken a seat at their dinner table. When I did, it confirmed more than Tom’s sorrow. His simple honesty hit you in the opening sentence, “10 years, still hurts.” Underneath, was his name and “FDNY.”

Another telling thing occurred right after we had arrived at the site that day. We’d parked the car and were walking toward the entrance gate when a woman walked up. “Is that YOU?” she leaned in asking Tom.

Tom, looking embarrassed, kept silent and glanced down. “God bless you,” she said.

Other passerby paid similar respects. By the time we reached the gate, Tom looked relieved. Still gazing down, he said something more to himself than to me. “This is why I don’t like to come down here,” he said quietly.

Fast forward to September 11, 2011. This day would be especially extraordinary. My husband and I were in NYC to attend a memorial dinner with many of the first responders.

That morning, we had walked to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for a special service. The recessional hymn was “America the Beautiful.” Applause broke out as members of the Fire Department came down the aisle in single file and walked straight out the door. If brotherhood had filled the Cathedral, it was palpable outside. Firemen gathered on the sidewalk, mingling and hugging one another. Behind them were sparkling clean fire trucks parked all in a row.

That afternoon, I took a stroll through Central Park. I saw folks doing all sorts of stuff. From a small group sharing a picnic to a couple having boxing practice. Each vignette shared a single theme, the continuum of life. All going on while in another part of the park, people were gathering for a Cantor Fitzgerald Memorial Service.

Exiting the park, I paused to admire a dog or two. One was a 3-year-old golden retriever named Bobbi Quilot. “It’s Mandarin for ‘Happy,’” the owner explained.

Another dog, named Jack, who, I was told, came as a gift from Elton John. His owner could not have been nicer. We talked about Jack and a football game, still in play. Inevitably, our conversation moved to the anniversary. “It’s been an emotional day for everyone,” he said.

Two days later, I visited the National September 11 Memorial. I lingered for hours. I’m still looking for the right words but a photograph describes the experience much better than I could. In the NE corner of the North Pool, I saw a rainbow. I think it lives there.

At the memorial dinner that evening, I carried Tom’s book, hoping to see him there. He had signed the book and given it to me that day in March 2005 but for some reason, I wanted to ask if he would sign it again this day.

Thankful, I spied Tom across the room and made my way over. He was as kind and soft spoken as I’d remembered him. When I presented the book with my request, Tom looked exactly like he did years before when the woman on the sidewalk had walked up. Embarrassed.

Then, graciously, he signed the book.

I didn’t look to see what he had written until finally, everyone had taken a seat at their dinner table. When I did, it confirmed more than Tom’s sorrow. His simple honesty hit you in the opening sentence, “10 years, still hurts.” Underneath, was his name and “FDNY.”

I’d like to think everyone who goes there, will see it too but most especially, Tom Von Essen and all his brothers.

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Admission to the National September 11 Memorial is free, but advance reservations must be made online.

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Now hear this

New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

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