Bin Laden's death evokes pain, patriotism in the Rockville Centre community

The U.S. military mission that resulted in the death of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden last weekend evoked a range of emotions in people with connections to Rockville Centre, which lost nearly 50 residents in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Comments by Cathy Geyer, whose husband, James, was killed in the World Trade Center headquarters of Cantor Fitzgerald, where he worked, reflect both the patriotic pride and the pain that is still fresh for many who lost loved ones that day. “My emotions aren’t quite clear. I’m still trying to digest it all,” Geyer said on Monday. “I’m happy this man was finally found and [killed]. Justice has been served. Our country has proven that we are a strong nation and will not give up in the fight on terrorism. That I am proud of.

“For me, personally,” Geyer added, “it’s been a tough 10 years without my husband. He is missed more and more as time goes on. Osama bin Laden is dead, but that isn’t going to bring my husband, my children’s father, back to us. The pain in my heart is still there.”

Active in the Rockville Centre Soccer Club, James Geyer was one of four of its coaches who perished that day — Stephen Tighe, Edward Geraghty and Jim Cove were the others. They were all recently remembered at the club’s 40th anniversary gala, a fundraiser to renovate the field at Mill River that was renamed in honor of Tighe.

“Is it true that with the killing of Osama bin Laden, we may reclaim a piece of our heart?” Theresa Cove wrote in an e-mail. “Although the heart will always remain wounded, America has delivered its promise to the families of Sept. 11 and for that I am most grateful. My heart still aches for Jim, the boys still imagine the father that didn’t come home from work that night, but I am overjoyed that the world is rid of such an evil individual.

“I tip my hat to our president, the military intelligence [community] and most of all to the courageous Navy Seal team,” she added. “We can digest this nightmare and feel that justice has been served. We demonstrated to the world that America will prevail.