Remembering Alok Mehta and Fred Morrone on September 11

Memorial tribute image with two illuminated red candles honoring Alok Kumar Mehta and Ferdinand V. “Fred” Morrone, with their portraits and names — A memorial tribute to Alok Kumar Mehta and Ferdinand V. “Fred” Morrone.

Alok was a brother of my Triangle Fraternity chapter at Colorado State University. He was killed at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, before my time in the chapter. Years later, as an undergraduate, another chapter brother and I had the privilege of helping present a memorial honoring Alok to our national fraternity.

Just before this anniversary, after wondering what had become of it, Triangle sent me a photograph and confirmed that Alok’s memorial still hangs at fraternity headquarters more than two decades later. Seeing it again meant a great deal to me.

Framed memorial honoring Alok Kumar Mehta at Triangle Fraternity headquarters, featuring his portrait, the Triangle coat of arms, the Tribute in Light, and a written remembrance — Alok Kumar Mehta’s memorial, still displayed at Triangle Fraternity headquarters.

Fred Morrone served as Superintendent of Police for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and was killed at the World Trade Center. I never knew Fred either, but his family later honored his memory through a scholarship that helped support my graduate education.

Two men I never had the opportunity to meet, yet their lives—and the people who chose to preserve their memories—touched mine.

Today, I remember Alok and Fred, their families, and all those who were killed or whose lives were forever changed on September 11, 2001.

May their memories be a blessing. We will not forget.

Two red votive candles burning side by side among other candles at a church, lit in memory of Alok Mehta and Fred Morrone — Two candles lit in remembrance of Alok Mehta and Fred Morrone on September 11, 2026.