Byram policeman honors those who died on 9/11

Byram - This year will mark the fifth anniversary of the tragedy that has become synonymous with the date 9/11. Despite the sadness evoked by memories of the events that took place on that date in 2001, John Hulse has tried to make some good come out of it. Hulse, a Byram police officer, was sent to help with the recovery efforts after that tragic day in 2001, along with many others. “Though you can’t help but think of it all a dozen times a day, I have no desire to relive those days,” says Hulse. He was one of the officers who helped bring back the piece of steel from the World Trade Center that now is the centerpiece to the county’s 9/11 Memorial at Sussex County Community College. Hulse recalled bringing the large piece of metal around the county on a trailer hitch from one benefit to another to raise money to build the memorial, which was built completely by donated funds. The memorial is now maintained by the Policemen’s Benevolent Association. Hulse attended a memorial service for the Port Authority officers who died almost five years ago at the World Trade Center, and was so moved by the bagpipes played for the service, that he himself became determined to learn to play the instrument. Today he belongs to the Police Pipes and Drums of Morris County. The group played at the dedication ceremony for the Sussex County 9/11 Memorial. Hulse continues to work for the Byram Police Dept. and is trying to maintain a positive outlook on life. He says he considers himself “very fortunate.” Each year he and others who worked at Ground Zero must go through health screenings. For this Hulse goes to New Brunswick’s Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. To date all his tests have shown him to be in great health. Hulse says his experiences have made him more conscious of his duty as a citizen. He has become active with the Police Unity Tour, a 300 mile bicycle ride from Florham Park to the World Trade Center, and then to Washington D.C. to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. This year the tour raised it’s highest amount ever, one million dollars. “This past May 15 was my first year to ride in it, and the tour’s 10th anniversary,” said Hulse. ”I was riding for my friend, Paul Laszczynski, a Port Authority police officer who died on 9/11.” Laszczynski is also honored in the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund 2007 calendar in the month of August. Each officer riding must raise a minimum of $1,500 for the fund. “The fund hopes to build a museum across from the memorial in D.C. to continue to honor those who have died,” explained Hulse. The families of those honored in the tour each year receive a metal bracelet with the officer’s name on it. The bracelet is worn by an officer riding in the tour, then left on the wall of the memorial for one week, after which the officer who rode the tour gives it to the deceased officer’s family. Hulse was the first officer from Sussex County to ride in the tour, and he already is already gearing up for the next ride in 2007. He hopes to drum up even more support this year, and he has recruited other officers from the county to ride with him. For information, log on to policeunitytour.com.