From Landfill to Hallowed Ground

An NYPD sergeant shares his experiences in the tragic aftermath of 9/11 and the tireless search for remains among the debris of the Twin Towers.

The morning of September 11, 2001, began like any other Tuesday for police Sergeant Frank Marra. He woke up early, brewed his coffee, and got his son Anthony ready for kindergarten. Then a shocking image interrupted televised broadcasts nationwide: the South Tower of the World Trade Center was engulfed in flames and smoke. Sergeant Marra stared in shock at what would become the largest crime scene he would ever investigate.

Marra spent months at the Staten Island Landfill, where the 1.6 million tons of debris was searched for any form of evidence that could help identify the victims, including the remains of those buried beneath. Officers and volunteers worked tirelessly, often at great cost to themselves, to bring closure for so many grieving families. This heartrending story gives readers a rare and intimate glimpse into the days and months following the attack on September 11, and the stories that echo from “The Hill”—the hallowed ground of those who perished on that fateful day.