Donor of 9/11 Cross at St. James Recalls Memories of WTC Clean-up

Somerset County Surrogate Frank Bruno said on Monday that his reaction to the report of Osama bin Laden's death was similar to his reaction almost 10 years ago when he heard about the attack on the World Trade Center — it was hard to believe.

In 2001, Bruno was galvanized to respond to offer assistance on multiple levels. As county surrogate, Bruno said he helped handle the estates of 38 residents, many of them from Bernards Township.

But Bruno also drew upon his experience as a U.S. serviceman, where he had learned to be a welder. He said he spent weeks on the smoldering World Trade Center site putting those skills to use.

In the end, he brought home some momentos, including an iron cross fashioned from metal at the site that now resides in a small prayer room at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Basking Ridge. in the small chapel, which includes a plaque with the names of local victims.

On Monday, Bruno's reaction to the reported news of bin Laden's death was more reflective than active.

"I'm glad he was able to be taken out," he said of the al Qaeda leader, whom he called "the most evil person in modern times."

Bruno said he was pleased that bin Laden was killed, rather than dying of old age or illness. He said the al Qaeda leader has not only the blood of those killed at the World Trade Center on his hands, but also those who have been injured or killed since carrying out the mission of fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also praised the military for its persistence in tracking bin Laden.

Somerset County counted 39 of its residents as having perished in the collapse of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. According to the county office, 18 of the victims were from Basking Ridge, while some of the town's residents believe the number is as high as 25.

"It's not a competition, obviously, but Basking Ridge clearly was hit the hardest [in Somerset County] that day," Bruno said last September.