During this Holiday Season, I would like to publicly thank three World Trade Center rescue workers, from the New Hyde Park community, for their efforts over the past three months.

Richard Pietler, FDNY, who worked tirelessly for weeks on 12-hour shifts at the WTC site; Ernie Gentile, FDNY who, along with Rick, heroically risked their lives searching for survivors through the ruins during the first days and nights immediately after the Sept. 11 disaster; and Police Officer Frank Tioczkowski, NYPD, who broke his leg in his rescue efforts.

I lost my brother, Michael F. Lynch, FDNY on Sept. 11 and Rick continually kept me updated on the progress at the site.

There are many other members from our community who contributed to the rescue efforts. I want to thank all of them for their heroic efforts; they are true heroes.

Bernadette Lynch Rafferty