May 30, 2002

AMBASSADOR GUEST TO RECEIVE SEPTEMBER 11 COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE FROM ROMANIAN-AMERICAN FIREFIGHTER

On Monday, June 3, U.S. Ambassador to Romania Michael Guest will be presented with a September 11 commemorative plaque by Romanian-American firefighter Michael Voicu. Voicu was one of the firefighters who worked on September 11 and in the aftermath at the World Trade Center site.

The plaque carries the patches of the New York Fire Department, the New York City Police Department and the Port Authority Police Department, which were all involved in the rescue operations. Under each patch is inscribed the number of people from the respective agency who lost their lives on or in the aftermath of September 11, namely 343, 37 and 23.

Michael (Mihail) Voicu was born on March 3, 1970 in Bucharest and left Romania with his parents in 1976. He enlisted in the U.S. Airforce reserves at 18-year-old and continues to serve today in the reserves. He worked for 3 years as a policeman and for the past four years, Michael Voicu has been a professional firefighter with North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Department in New Jersey, which was one of the units fully involved in the rescue operations at the WTC.

During the press event, Michael Voicu will recount his experiences on September 11, and after the ceremony he will be available for interviews with journalists. He speaks both Romanian and English.

The press is invited to the ceremony which will be held at the American Cultural Center, 7-9 Jean Louis Calderon Street, Monday, June 3, at 11:45 am.