Twenty-Five Years Later, Troy Remembers September 11

Twenty-five years have passed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, changed America and the fire service forever. On Friday morning, members of the Troy Fire Department, local leaders, first responders, families and members of the community gathered at the newly renovated September 11 Memorial at First Avenue and 112th Street in Lansingburgh to remember those who were lost and honor those who answered the call to help.

This year's ceremony carried even more meaning as the nation marked a quarter-century since the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93. Twenty-five years have gone by, but the message heard throughout the ceremony remained the same as it has since that terrible day: Never Forget.

Standing over the ceremony was a large American flag that flew proudly above the crowd. As the flag moved in the wind above the memorial, it created a powerful sight for those gathered below. For many attending the ceremony, seeing the American flag flying high above the firefighters, first responders, families and community members brought back the feeling of unity that spread across the country following September 11. It gave the ceremony a strong sense of pride and reminded everyone that even after one of the darkest days in American history, the country came together.

The memorial itself has also received major improvements. New pavers have been installed around the monument, including pavers carrying the names of families who purchased blocks to become a permanent part of the memorial. A new flagpole now stands proudly beside the monument, giving the American flag a permanent place to fly over the memorial dedicated to a day that changed the world forever.

Throughout the ceremony, local leaders spoke not only as elected officials, but as people who remembered exactly where they were when America was attacked. Troy Mayor Carmella Mantello, New York State Senator Jake Ashby, New York State Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly, Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault and Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin were among those who addressed the crowd. Each shared memories of where they were on September 11, 2001, what they remembered about that day and how watching the attacks unfold had an impact on their lives.

For millions of Americans, the question “Where were you on September 11?” still brings back memories 25 years later. People remember where they were standing, who they were with and what they were doing when they first heard that a plane had struck the World Trade Center. They remember watching the second plane hit and realizing the country was under attack. Those memories have stayed with an entire generation.

For members of the Troy Fire Department, however, the connection to September 11 goes even deeper. Their own firefighters went to Ground Zero.

Troy Fire Chief Richard Cellucci spoke during the ceremony about his memories of traveling to New York City to help following the attacks. Retired Troy Fire Captain Gary Favro also spoke about his experience and the memories that have stayed with him since serving at Ground Zero. Favro has remained heavily involved with Troy Uniformed Firefighters Local 86 and its work supporting the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in the Capital Region, continuing the mission of remembering the sacrifices made on September 11 and supporting first responders and their families.

Following the attacks, members of the Troy Fire Department left their families and the city they normally protected and traveled more than 150 miles to New York City. They joined firefighters, police officers, construction workers, heavy equipment operators and thousands of other responders who came from communities across the country to help with the enormous search and recovery operation at the World Trade Center site.

Among the Troy Fire Department members who served in the recovery effort were Chief Thomas Garrett, Battalion Chief Thomas Adams, Battalion Chief James Hughs, Captain John Carboni, Captain Raymond Davis, Captain Gary Favro, Captain Michael Kelleher, Captain Enrico Moreno, Lieutenant Eric McMahon, Lieutenant Conrad Moss, Firefighter Paul Denio, Firefighter David Judge, Firefighter William Miller, Firefighter Michael Murnane and Firefighter Randall Pascucci.

Firefighter Vincent Sadowski also served at Ground Zero, although his story was somewhat different. Sadowski was working with heavy equipment during the September 11 recovery operation and later went on to become a member of the Troy Fire Department, continuing his service to the community as a firefighter in the Collar City.

For these men, September 11 is not something they learned about in a history book or watched in a documentary. They witnessed the aftermath firsthand and worked alongside thousands of other responders during one of the most difficult operations the American fire service has ever faced. Their service at Ground Zero remains an important part of the history of the Troy Fire Department and the City of Troy.

The fire service lost 343 FDNY firefighters on September 11, 2001. Thousands of other people were killed that morning, and many first responders later became sick or lost their lives from illnesses connected to their work at Ground Zero. In the days, weeks and months following the attacks, firefighters from across the United States traveled to New York City to help. Troy was one of those communities that answered the call.

Friday's ceremony and the improvements to the memorial were also made possible through the hard work of many people behind the scenes. Eric Wisher, who helps organize the September 11 memorial ceremony each year along with his crew, thanked everyone who gave their time, labor, materials and support to make the 25th anniversary ceremony possible.

Wisher thanked C.D. Perry & Sons, DLC Electric, Market 32, Grethen-Cahrenger Memorials, the Rensselaer County Master Gardeners, the City of Troy and crews from its departments, the Rensselaer County Sheriff's ATI Program and Alex Horton for their work and contributions to the memorial.

Wisher also gave special thanks to Market 32 for donating the new flagpole for the monument. The donation now allows the American flag to proudly fly beside the September 11 memorial and provides another lasting piece of the site for generations to come.

The work that went into rebuilding and improving the memorial was about much more than bricks, pavers, landscaping or a flagpole. It was about creating a place where Troy can continue to remember. Every family name placed into the memorial; every improvement made to the property and every person who helped with the project has become part of keeping that promise alive.

That promise becomes more important with every passing year. There are now firefighters beginning their careers who were not alive when the attacks happened. Children sitting in classrooms today know September 11 only through photographs, videos, stories from their families and lessons in history books.

For the firefighters who stood at Ground Zero, it will never simply be history.

As the ceremony continued Friday morning, the large American flag flying proudly above the crowd helped bring the meaning of the day together. Underneath that flag stood people from different generations and different walks of life. There were firefighters who remembered September 11 firsthand standing alongside younger firefighters who were not yet born. There were elected officials, first responders, families and everyday members of the community standing together for the same reason.

For a moment, the flag flying above them seemed to bring everyone together and gave those attending a sense of pride, strength and unity. It was a reminder of what the American flag represented in the days following September 11, when flags appeared outside homes, businesses, firehouses and communities across the country.

Twenty-five years have changed a lot. Firefighters have retired, new firefighters have taken their places, fire apparatus has changed and an entirely new generation has grown up. But the memories of September 11 have not disappeared.

September 11 showed America some of the greatest loss the nation had ever experienced, but the days that followed also showed courage, compassion, unity and the brotherhood of the American fire service.

When New York City needed help, firefighters came from everywhere. When that call reached Troy, Troy firefighters went. Twenty-five years later, beneath a large American flag flying proudly over Troy's newly renovated September 11 Memorial, their community gathered once again to remember those who never came home, recognize those who answered the call and make sure their stories continue to be told.

A quarter-century has passed since the day that changed the world forever, but one thing was clear throughout Friday's ceremony.

Troy has not forgotten.