The Freedom Tower

The Tribute WTC Visitor Center in Lower Manhattan welcomed its
500,000th visitor last month.  LT Jeremy E. Vellón, USN, 31,
is an Assistant Air Officer on the USS Kearsarge.  Stationed in Virginia
but originally from Brooklyn, Vellón along with five of his family
members came to the Tribute center to pay their respects.

“I have no words to properly describe what this opportunity to visit meant
for me and my family,” said LT Vellón.  “From losing my friend and
classmate Darin Pontell at the Pentagon to deploying that week onboard
USS BATAAN for Operation Enduring Freedom to leaving my
wife Jeanie behind to wait patiently, I was affected.  Thankfully, I was
able to participate last November in Operation Sea Angel II
providing humanitarian assistance to the Bangladeshi victims of Cyclone
Sidr along with the ‘Mighty Kearsarge.’  Thanks for this honor on behalf
of the sailors, marines and coastguardsmen visiting for Fleet Week 2008.
I hope to serve my country as long as she’ll let me.”