It’s been eight years since the fateful day when America was attacked, yet Sept. 11, 2001 still rings near, especially to those who lost a loved one.
The Port Authority’s Lincoln Tunnel Command recently honored Port Authority Police Officer Jon Skala with a ceremony that included placing a plaque bearing a picture of the officer near the front entrance of the tunnel. The event took place Friday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. at the Port Authority Lincoln Tunnel Command Post on Boulevard East in Weehawken, where Skala had worked.
Police believe Skala was able to reach the 32nd floor before Tower two collapsed.
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“It was a lot more people than we had expected, which is quite a tribute,” said Burns. “We had people from other commands, we had retired officers coming, and we had civilians. He was very well liked by everybody. It was a very emotional time.”
“He was a great cop,” said Port Authority Patrol Officer James Skeith. “He was very motivated. Every time you worked with him he laughed a lot.”
A commitment to help others
Skala was first appointed to the police force in April of 1993, and assigned to the Lincoln Tunnel. His mother, sister, and brother who reside in Clifton called him “Yash.” He was 31 when he died. He was not married, nor did he have children.
Burns said Skala’s record revealed his commitment to helping others. He served as Paramedic with the Clifton and Passaic Ambulance Corps and was an EMT, a First Responder, and a CPR Instructor. He was a member of the board of directors of his local church and worked with the Ukrainian Youth Organization.
Skala volunteered for the Special Olympics in New Jersey and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of the Police Honor Legion. He was awarded two medals for meritorious police duty.
Skala was also commended by the New Jersey State Police Honor Legion for his perfect attendance.
Last know whereabouts
On Sept. 11, 2001, Skala was scheduled to be in North Bergen Court at 9 a.m., but was re-directed to the World Trade Center after the first plane struck Tower One.
Skala responded to the scene with Officer Patrick Lucas and followed three other officers who were on the way to the scene as well. All five parked near Barclay Street and West Broadway in New York just as the second plane struck Tower Two.
The final moments of Skala are unknown, but information was gathered from a Port Authority Police Department report, the Lincoln Tunnel Roll Call, transcripts, telephone transmissions, and interviews.
It is believed Skala may have perished while helping to evacuate civilians in floors one through 30 in Tower Two along with Port Authority Police Officer Donald McIntyre, who also perished, and two other unidentified PA officers. That information came from a transcript of a PA radio channel. Police believe that Skala and the rescue team were able to reach the 32nd floor before the collapse of Tower Two.
Skala’s body was never recovered. But a memorial service was held for him on Oct. 21, 2001 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church in Passaic.
Personal items that belonged to him were interred at the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery on Sept. 17, 2005 in Campbell Hall, New York.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com