Fire Chief Who Died Saving Other Firefighters During 9/11 Finally Gets His Funeral

Firefighters Lt. Michael Stack (white hat) and Brian Stack (dark hat) ride on the back of the fire truck during the funeral of their father Fire Department of New York Battalion Chief Lawrence Stack who was killed in the World Trade Center terror attacks of September 11, 2001, outside Saints Philip and James Roman Catholic Church June 17, 2016 in St James, New York. Andrew Theodorakis/Getty Images

It was the first month of his baby’s life—a busy time for a family man. Yet Michael Stack also had to find time to pursue another urgent family matter—sifting through rubble and asking questions about his father’s whereabouts at Ground Zero.

“I know exactly where he was... But there’s 110 floors on top of him,” Stack told Newsday’s Jennifer Smith in December 2001.

“People ask me what do I want for Christmas?” he said. “I wish he was here. I wish we could bury him.”

Now, 15 years later, this wish finally comes true.

On Friday, June 17, Battalion Chief Lawrence Stack of the New York City Fire Department was buried at Long Island’s Calverton National Cemetery following a funeral mass.

It was 14 years, 9 months, and 6 days after he died.

Stack’s remains were never found. But his family recently discovered two vials of blood that he had donated during a bone marrow drive for a child with cancer. And that is enough for a Catholic funeral.

Pallbearers carry the casket during the funeral for Fire Department of New York Battalion Chief Lawrence Stack who was killed in the World Trade Center terror attacks of September 11, 2001, outside Saints Philip and James Roman Catholic Church June 17, 2016 in St James, New York. Andrew Theodorakis/Getty Images