CADENCE TO FDNY HEROS: The band led FDNY members in a march to and from the Firemen's Memorial on Riverside Drive. The bagpipes and drums played somber airs, as families mourned the loss of loved ones who had died in the line of duty over the past year. (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)MOREHIDE
CADENCE TO FDNY HEROS: The band led FDNY members in a march to and from the Firemen's Memorial on Riverside Drive. The bagpipes and drums played somber airs, as families mourned the loss of loved ones who had died in the line of duty over the past year. (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)NEW YORK—Fire Department of New York (FDNY) members and families of the firefighters lost in the line of duty gathered in a solemn ceremony under the shade of Riverside Drive's elm trees on Wednesday morning.
The tartan-clad band led the procession of hundreds of uniformed firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). The white hats stood out against navy-blue uniforms, as the officers advanced toward the large Firemen’s monument for the 103rd annual FDNY Memorial.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended the ceremony and extended his condolences to the families of 14 FDNY firefighters who passed away this year. The family members were presented with roses, as wreaths were placed at the base of the monument. Several of the fallen honorees were among those who had rescued people from the rubble of the World Trade Center towers in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
REMEMBERING COMRADES: A retired FDNY worker stands with hundreds of uniformed firefighters and EMT workers, who gathered in memory of colleagues they have lost over the past year. (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)“Nine years ago, this monument took on even more significance after our nation and our city were attacked by terrorists,” said Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano. “That day, our members fought valiantly to save lives at the World Trade Center. Tragically, 343 members did not make it home. Every year since then, on the anniversary of the attack, I have come up to Riverside Drive to start my day with my fellow Fire [Department] and EMT members in solemn remembrance of the 343. Since Sept. 11, we have realized that our jobs have become dangerous in ways that none of us could have ever imagined.”
Since the Sept. 11 tragedy, the city has taken measures to better prepare for a large-scale emergency response, noted the FDNY Chief Edward Killduff. Fire code revisions and better building inspections are among the preventative actions that have been put in place since then.
Firefighters have been valued members of the New York City community long before the World Trade Center attacks of 2001. People of New York actually enabled construction of the Riverside Firemen’s Memorial back in 1913 through generous donations.
FIREMEN'S MEMORIAL: Firefighter Wilson sings the national anthem to begin the 103rd annual FDNY Memorial, as Mayor Bloomberg (R) stands with FDNY officers and family members of the fallen firefighters at the Riverside Firemen's Memorial. (Tara MacIsaac/The Epoch Times)“The firefighter’s monument that was dedicated 97 years ago was originally funded by the people of New York City. Thousands of school children chipped in their nickels, dimes, and pennies. It was a wonderful demonstration of the love and respect that this city held for the FDNY,” said Rev. Stephen Harding, FDNY chaplain, in his invocation speech at Wednesday’s ceremony.
Bishop Henry Potter was the first chairman of the memorial committee. He dedicated the site in 1913 “to our brave citizens who have lost or will sacrifice their lives in a war that never ends.”
