Photo by Gary Donovan
Paulie pushing down Elm Street.
Photos by Michelle Caprio
Paulie Veneto embraces retired Fire Department of New York Lt. Mickey Kross, who recently moved to West Haven. Kross was one of the first firefighters on the scene of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. He made it out of one of the towers, while rescuing a woman. He was escorted up Platt Avenue.
By Steven R. Mullins
Allingtown Volunteer Fire Association
On Labor Day morning, hundreds of residents participated in “Paulie’s Push” as it went through West Haven on its way to Milford.
“Paulie’s Push” is the inspiration of retired flight attendant Paul Veneto of Braintree, Massachusetts. Every year, Veneto pushes an airline beverage cart from Boston to the Freedom Tower in downtown Manhattan to commemorate the lives of the flight crews of American Airlines Flight Numbers 11 and 77 and United Airlines Flight Numbers 175 and 93, referring to them as the “first, first responders.”
“I was very close to being assigned to one of those planes,” said Veneto.
A procession led by West Haven Police, Center District and West Shore fire apparatus began at Kimberly Avenue at 9 a.m. The first stop was the 9-11 Memorial Mural on the corner of Washington Avenue and Elm Street, where Veneto was greeted by well-wishers.
The next stop was the Elm Street Fire Headquarters, where Veneto was greeted by firefighters, police and citizens, including retired Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Lt. Mickey Kross, who recently relocated to West Haven with his wife. Kross responded to the towers on 9-11 and made it out of the structure, while saving a life.
The cortège then snaked its way to Platt Avenue and Jones Hill Road, with hundreds of West Haven residents, many waving flags, cheering Veneto on and giving monetary donations to support his cause.
The West Haven portion of the route to lower Manhattan ended at the Baybrook Plaza on the West Haven-Milford city line.
Following lunch at Dive Bar, Veneto and his entourage of volunteers continued his journey through Milford. His for the day was to end at the Milford/Stratford line, rest overnight and get through Stratford, Bridgeport and Fairfield the next day.
Veneto’s pedestrian rendezvous began August 18th in Boston. He said that he covers roughly twelve miles a day on foot, with the assistance of first responders from each municipality. He plans to reach the Freedom Tower on September 11th.