By Rosemary McGinn
We take 9/11 personally around here, near the Fireman’s Memorial on upper Riverside Drive, at the foot of West 100th Street. (Yes, it’s fireMAN, the sign says so.) Every year on September 11, neighborhood streets and subways are flooded with firefighters from all over. We can hear the bagpipes from our living room windows.
The ceremony is set at the imposing, solemn memorial with hundreds of U.S. flags arrayed around it – honoring those 343 lost that day, and the more than 350 who have died since from 9/11-related illnesses. A special unit of volunteers lines up in long ranks before filling the space before the memorial.
As the morning wears on, a moment of silence is observed at each of the times a plane flew into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and that field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. There is no speechifying. Rather, the names of all FDNY members lost to 9/11 are read, along with their job titles and posts…. not all the victims, just the firefighters and their comrades such as EMS personnel. The traditional bell-ringing follows each.
The memorial itself is one of New York’s most dramatic and moving, with a large brass relief showing firefighters rushing to a fire with a horse-drawn carriage. In fact, there’s a special plaque dedicated by the ASPCA to honor the many horses who gave their lives trying to help with firefighting. There’s also a beautiful “old man winter” fountain, which was finally just turned on for the season.
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I had a New York Fire department brother that lose his life in the World Trade Center
What a fabulous article about a tragic day the author really brings out all the feelings of that day
What a day that was…I mean the actual day. The wind was blowing down the Hudson so there was no smoke to be seen, really. The skies were blue and it seemed such a lovely day, though we knew that all hell was breaking loose. A great tribute to the Responders.
Nice article. Great pictures.
God bless our brave firefighters
Great article.
Never forget 🇺🇸
I wish there was some advance notice for this as it got past me. All my admiration to the firefighters.
I saw this in an article published by the 9/11 Memorial Museum:
Among the staggering statistics resulting from the 9/11 attacks are those associated with New York City’s fire department. On Sept. 11, at the World Trade Center, it suffered the loss of 343 firefighters, whose deaths represented 4,400 years of cumulative training, nerve and wisdom. When the towers collapsed, age and experience on the job were meaningless protections. Fate claimed chiefs and “probies” alike that morning.
I will never forget. The worst day for New York and the US as a whole. I pray New Yorker’s keep that day in their hearts when we head to the polls to elect our next Mayor. In my opinion, we do not need the candidate calling for global violence (intifada). We’ve had enough.
Shame on you for using the events of 9/11 to divide us. Your comment is based in prejudice and is offensive to the many Muslim-Americans who were murdered on 9/11, who survived, and who responded and served in the aftermath. The families of those victims and heroes do not deserve to be maligned by racists like you whenever 9/11 comes up. Islam is a religion of 2 billion people, 1/4 of all humans on earth. Just as Christians and Jews are diverse and have a range of beliefs, so do Muslims.
Mamdani was a young child living in Manhattan when the attacks happened, and has likely experienced many hateful comments like yours. He never said that phrase you quoted and condemns violence at every turn, but I’m sure facts don’t matter to you.
I worked at the Museum and I can’t believe the ignorance of people like you who come out of the woodwork whenever you hear about 9/11 to spread hate. Keep 9/11 out of your mouth.
My brother perished at the Trade Center that day. I’ll speak about 9/11 whenever I choose. My opinion matters too.
I’m sorry for your loss—you are right that your experience entitles you to speak however you’d like. I have worked with a lot of family members with a wide range of opinions and backgrounds, and nobody gets to decide how that trauma impacts them and changes their perspective. Know that the Muslim-American families who lost their parents, siblings, and children loved them too, and share your grief. I’m not aware of someone who was lost with your last name, or I’d look your brother up and read about him. Apologies if my comment caused you stress, your family will be in my prayers.