NEW YORK—The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) concluded its weeklong symposium on Thursday with a tribute to the 343 Fire Department of New York (FDNY) firefighters who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The ceremony, held at the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, opened with a video tribute, followed by opening remarks by IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.
“When I watched in horror the south tower collapse, I knew at that very moment—although it would be days until we would fully understand the magnitude of this disaster—that this would be the most horrific day for our profession and the most devastating day for FDNY, because I knew where those firefighters would be,” Schaitberger said.
The audience stood up as the fire department’s bagpipe and drum band, the Emerald Society, marched down the center isle of the Hilton’s ballroom. The music filled the ballroom and brought a solemn air to the event. The Emerald Society performed at every one of the 343 funerals for the killed firefighters.
The ceremony, held at the Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, opened with a video tribute, followed by opening remarks by IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger.
“When I watched in horror the south tower collapse, I knew at that very moment—although it would be days until we would fully understand the magnitude of this disaster—that this would be the most horrific day for our profession and the most devastating day for FDNY, because I knew where those firefighters would be,” Schaitberger said.
The audience stood up as the fire department’s bagpipe and drum band, the Emerald Society, marched down the center isle of the Hilton’s ballroom. The music filled the ballroom and brought a solemn air to the event. The Emerald Society performed at every one of the 343 funerals for the killed firefighters.
A video with footage from Sept. 11, 2001, was followed by a sequence showing the 343 names of those who had died during the tragedy.
“I was very moved by it,” said Neil Brown, 52, a firefighter from Toronto. “I was [once] saved from a collapsed building; I was out of air for 19 minutes in a collapsed building in the smoke. So, seeing those names out there, it really touched home that I could have been there, too.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was among the speakers at the event.
“They were friends and colleagues, devoted parents and spouses, siblings, seasoned veterans and rookies. In short, they were the fabric of our cities, our communities, and our country,” Napolitano said. “Ten years later, the pain of their loss is still heavy in our hearts, and we know that some wounds will never fully heal.”
The participants were presented with a leather-bound photo album titled “10-Year Remembrance.” A medallion with a silhouette of a lone firefighter and the words “Never Forget” decorates on the inside front cover of the book.
FDNY Chaplain Christopher Keenan offered words of healing and encouraged the audience to keep the negative energy associated with the tragedy out of their minds.
“They did not die a heroic death. They lived a heroic life,” noted Keenan. “They made it a point each day to say yes to life rather than no. And in putting themselves second and in putting others first with the gift of their time and their energy, that’s really why they are so fondly remembered,” he added.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was among the speakers at the event.
“They were friends and colleagues, devoted parents and spouses, siblings, seasoned veterans and rookies. In short, they were the fabric of our cities, our communities, and our country,” Napolitano said. “Ten years later, the pain of their loss is still heavy in our hearts, and we know that some wounds will never fully heal.”
The participants were presented with a leather-bound photo album titled “10-Year Remembrance.” A medallion with a silhouette of a lone firefighter and the words “Never Forget” decorates on the inside front cover of the book.
FDNY Chaplain Christopher Keenan offered words of healing and encouraged the audience to keep the negative energy associated with the tragedy out of their minds.
“They did not die a heroic death. They lived a heroic life,” noted Keenan. “They made it a point each day to say yes to life rather than no. And in putting themselves second and in putting others first with the gift of their time and their energy, that’s really why they are so fondly remembered,” he added.
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