9/11 Stories: Ed Cetnar

Despite 9/11- caused stage 4 renal cancer that metastasized to his lungs, Edward Cetnar has been the head of the Port Authority Police (as Superintendent) since 2018. In fact, he was given the diagnosis 2 years earlier, at the FIRST symptom: pain in his side. That is the nature of 9/11cancers. They are often cancers on steroids.
 
On September 11th, Cetnar was the acting Sergeant of the highly elite “teams unit” of the New Jersey State Police. The 30 members comprised a SWAT team...the Navy Seals of the New Jersey State Police. They were the snipers, the divers, the heavy rescue people. Activated in Princeton, New Jersey by the Governor some 2 hours after the terror attack on The World Trade Center, Cetnar and his team were immediately sent into the voids of Ground Zero, looking for any sign of survivors. They found none. It turned into a somber recovery.
 
Ed says all he thought of was the mission. It wasn’t until weeks later that it caught up to him. He thought of all those offices in The World Trade Center. All the office equipment. But he failed to see a single desk at Ground Zero, not a single phone, not a single chair. Papers flew everywhere. But everything else was pulverized, including most of the close to 3,000 who were murdered. The 343 NYC firefighters, the 23  New York City Police officers and the 37 Port Authority cops, the most police department members ever lost in a single day in the U.S. The department Edward Cetnar would head 17 years later, was headquartered in The World Trade Center in 2001.

[macycharmin]

Mr. Cetnar, I watched this 9/11/23, you look very good in this video. I hope you are doing well today, I know your diagnosis can be full of good and bad days, and can last years, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I am in awe as your bravery on 9/11 and the many days following. You are as much hero today as much as you were 22 years ago. I was in year 16 of a 21 year career in airline operations at that time; even today, the most surreal day of my life. God bless you and your family.

[Sushi]

My goodness! You have so much to be proud of. What a career of service you have had. Thank you for your years of dedicated service to the citizens of our country. We had our WWII hero’s and now you are part of the generation of 9/11 hero’s! Great great men and women. We all owe you a debt that can’t be repaid!

[juliamaxwellmarin]

May God Bless you... Never Quit. Never Forget. NEVER GIVE UP !!

[jennifercorley]

God bless you Ed! Your group was so highly trained and I was very impressed listening to you recalling being dropped into voids to search for survivors. I pray your health continues and you continue to serve the Port Authority. 😇

[dianemitchell]

Your rescue unit sounds so brave. Thank you for service. I can’t imagine what horrors you experienced.

[Lorraine-cg]

I salute this gentleman for his tenacity and dedication to serving others. Very honourable.

[BurntTM]

I send my condolences to everybody who lost family and friends on 9/11.

I don't know of any family or friends I had that were at the World Trade Center at the time. I was born 5 years after this.

[NHF-JGF]

Edward, I respect your honesty. I can understand why you are angry. And yet, you haven't quit. Good for you. God BLESS!

[k.gspianoworldjourneyschan]

Thank u Ed 4 your service... each... day! Your a new hero in my book! Huggs to u & your sacrifice!! Kenny. 😉🤙💌👌

[bsinclair]

Best wishes, Ed, to you and the Cetnar family. Congratulations on your St. Patrick's Day parade acknowledgement! Prayers for continued blessings on your health. We miss seeing you, K, and your mom during the winter at Windsor Palms. Much happiness!
Barbara (One of the Farkle gals!)

[purplebunny]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Bless you and yours

[donnamyers]

QUESTION NO ONE HAS ASK!!! I'll never forget that day! I've watched everything on YouTube about 911. I know that the medical examiner's involved have said that just about half of the victims killed that day were never identified. Many families had no body to bury. No one has ever ask or reported exactly how many police officers or fireman were never found!!! I wished someone would ask that. There also need to be a exclusive special of all the families that did not have the body of their loved one's to bury. Prayers for all involved.

[lorrainepollock]

How many firefighters were identified, police, port authority, emts, all the others.

[sheilahammond]

The forces should all be made more aware of the importance of de-tox, so that they can help future generations combat the high levels of toxicity now being produced, along with technology. There are all kinds of toxins given off, and especially concentrated when subjected to high heats. The forces are far more exposed than the average person, and search and rescue crews, and firemen and women should all have regular detox regimes, as part of their training and functions.

[squire]

The Port Authority ESU NYPD and FDNY did the heavy rescue. They also lost the men and woman that day.

[burtsoloc]

Interesting recount but way too many you-knows.