Last Friday was the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attack on our country. We are currently in the middle of a worldwide pandemic of unprecedented proportions. While our minds are glued on this pandemic, let us not forget the many lives that were lost and touched during that faithful day.
As firefighters, we remember how the loss of those 343 firefighters touched our lives. We remember the funerals and memorial services, the pictures, the wives, children and families. We remember the look on the firefighters’ faces as they entered the towers that day. Even to this day, 19 years later, we remember their names, Michael D’Auria, Engine 40, Paul Gill, Engine 54, Terry Hatton, Rescue 1, Peter Ganci, Chief of the Department, Wells Remy Crowther, a volunteer firefighter, Patty Brown, Ladder 3, Brian Hickey, Rescue 4, Ray Downey Sr., Chief of Special Operations, Dave Fontana, Squad 1, Father Michael Judge, Chaplain, and the list goes on and on.
We also remember the writings and the books, from Marian Fontana’s, “A Widow’s Walk,” to the New York Times bestseller, “102 Minutes.” Lastly we remember the day of the dedication of the 9/11 Memorial Museum in 2014. While the dedication was full of speeches, reflections and poignant moments, it was the New York Children’s Choir who sang “There’s a Place for Us” we remember the most. Their beautiful young voices echoed off the slurry walls and the last beam, giving meaning to the fact that yes, this is the place for those who died that day.
“No day shall erase you from the memory of time” by Virgil is embossed on the wall of the museum. Let us never erase the events of this day from our memory. While the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the 9/11 events on this day, please take a moment to reflect on what happened Sept. 11, 2001.
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