Prospect Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, October 12, 2001

PARKIE AND NATIONAL GUARDSMAN SERVES AT GROUND ZERO

Prepared by Malcolm (Cinema) Pinckney

If you see a Parkie in fatigues, it’s probably Roland (Bel Air) Chouloute, a reserve in the National Guard. Since September 11, Chouloute has split his time between the Parklands office and ground zero. Initially his responsibilities in lower Manhattan included transporting rescue workers and monitoring incoming traffic. His third night on the job, a Police Officer, grieving the loss of his brother, spontaneously embraced Chouloute and thanked him for his work. On the afternoon of September 11, Governor Pataki issued the call for members of the reserve National Guard to make themselves available. Chouloute reported for duty and was told to remain on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When it became clear that the recovery effort would take months, members of the National Guard were asked to apply their civilian skills. Chouloute, who works as the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) liaison for the Parklands office and prepares computer presentations for the office, has been working with classified information at the Emergency Mapping and Data Center.

Chouloute has been so impressed with the images of destruction that he says he cannot remember what the twin towers looked like standing. He recalls intense dust his first night at ground zero and papers from all different floors of the World Trade Center, from the east and west sides of town strewn about. He observes that New York City, traditionally fast-paced, has been stilled by the tragedy. Chouloute is frequently stopped by citizens who notice his uniform and ask him about what he’s seen and what kind of work he is doing. On Thursday, October 11, Chouloute met with Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern to discuss his work in lower Manhattan. Chouloute began with Parks as an intern in 1996.