9/11 Tribute Edition
Fire News, September 2021, Page 5
– Guest Editorial –
Why We Must Never Forget Like the greatest generation of World War II, young men and women who served and died under our nation's flag, as well as those who served and sacrificed in Korea and Vietnam and other war-torn lands, firefighters and first responders across our nation joined them in becoming “ordinary” men and women doing the extraordinary when they put their lives on the line after the unthinkable events of that sunny, Tuesday morning of September 11, 2001. When the first plane struck, the very fabric of our civilized society was hit and first responders across NYC and within the Twin Towers themselves went to work directing fellow citizens down passable stairways. FDNY and NYPD members reached upper floors of the towers in minutes and directed innocent civilians to the safety of the ground below, commanders made gutwrenching life and death decisions and medics set up triage areas while the United States Coast Guard-New York sector organized and directed all available civilian boats to assist in evacuating lower Manhattan. Although off duty that morning, like every other FDNY member I know, when I saw it television, I immediately, without hesitation, headed into New York City to do my part. The late President Harry S. Truman said, “America was not built on fear but rather an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” That morning, so many did the job at hand. In the span of 106 minutes, they conducted the largest search, rescue and land aging health effects that would face so many in a few short years and sea evacuation ever undertaken on American soil. In total, with no end in sight. Too many would begin an unwanted journey more than 25,000 civilians were rescued and evacuated from the where they needed to fight for health care for themselves and others afflicted with such horrible medical issues as a result of their World Trade Center and lower Manhattan. The cost would be unthinkable: 37 Port Authority Police service, their dedication and their incredible human spirt to the Officers, 23 New York City Police Officers and 343 New York rescue and recovery operation. Many would fight for these imporCity Firefighters would give their lives at the altar of freedom tant issues of 9/11 responder health care until their dying breath. saving their fellow citizens. The unthinkable loss of human life of This is a testament to who they were and equally important who innocent civilians just going about their workday left scars, emo- we are and why we must never forget. For so many 9/11/2001 is every day and no day erases the tions and sorrow that will never heal. In the minutes, hours, days, weeks and months after 10:06 a.m. memory of time. As the 20th Anniversary approached and passed, Tuesday, September 11, 2001, America mobilized itself in a way there were many tributes to those lost. However, the smallest acts of remembrance are of perhaps not seen since World acknowledging a family War II. Thousands of our member of someone lost that “Thousands of military servicemen and Countrymen and women, and day, even simply thinking of first responders across every women of every branch of our armed forces or calling to check in on a spectrum of our society responded both at home and abroad to conresponder, a fallen military responded and took part in front a new and ever-changing dangerous service member who gave the rescue and recovery opertheir life in the war on terror, world of cowards who wished to harm ation. a veteran who has served our Day and night around the American democracy. We owe our veterans nation, or a responder wo clock, during the cold months a debt, which can never be repaid.” died because of the health from Fall 2001 through effects, may be the simplest Winter 2002, responders, gesture and most important construction workers, engineers, medical professionals, clergy, and so many others worked act of remembrance. It will always be there for those families and in the the most dangerous and challenging conditions ever under- these small acts touch the soul and spirit of who we are as taken to find their fellow citizens to bring closure, and comfort to Americans. May God continue to watch over and bless our military, our so many suffering families. Thousands of military servicemen and women of every branch first responders across our nation, and most of all — We Must of our armed forces responded both at home and abroad to con- Never Forget. front a new and ever-changing dangerous world of cowards who Tom Donnelly wished to harm American democracy. We owe our veterans a Suffolk County Legislator, debt, which can never be repaid. 17th Legislative District In those days and months during the rescue and recovery operFDNY Lieutenant (ret.) ation, few could envision or care for that matter about the rav-
