Hall of Flame

Museum of Firefighting

National Firefighting Hall of Heroes

December 11, 2001: A Commemoration Ceremony to recognize FDNY firemen killed in action on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center

Home Page | Who We Are | Exhibits | Collections | Membership | Volunteers | Hours & Location | What's New |  Related Web Sites | Table of Contents Page | Education Program & Tours | Wildland Firefighting Exhibit

| Firehouse Magazine 1998 Rescue Award Directory |  Firehouse Magazine 1997 Rescue Award Directory | Firehouse Magazine 1999 Rescue Award Directory | Firehouse Magazine 2000 Rescue Award Directory |

Executive Director Peter Molloy and Firefighter Louis Giaconelli, FDNY Engine 53, with the FDNY Memorial

On December 11, 2001 the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes hosted a ceremony to recognize the sacrifices made by 343 firemen of the Fire Department of New York City who died in the line of duty at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  

Over 1,000 people attended the ceremony, at which a permanent memorial to the fallen firefighters was dedicated.  Hall of Flame President George F. Getz presided over the ceremony.  Speakers included Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull, Phoenix FD Assistant Chief Robert Kahn, Mesa, Arizona Chief Dennis Compton, retired FDNY Battalion Chief George Pickett, IAFF Local 493 President Billy Shields, and New York firefighter Louis Giaconelli of Engine 53. Phoenix FD Chaplain Father Carl Carlozzi gave the opening prayer.  Chandler FD Chaplain Karl Le Claire provided the benediction.

The combined Mesa - Phoenix Honor Guard and the Mesa Pipe and Drum Corps presented the colors and executed the 3-3-3 ceremony recognizing the loss of the firefighters at the disaster.

The memorial was unveiled by Chief Pickett and Firefighter Giaconelli as representatives of the New York City Fire Department.  In the audience were over 60 retired FDNY firefighters and a group of active FDNY firefighters who were riding bicycles across the country to thank the nation for its support of the City of New York following the disaster.

The memorial contains the name, rank, company assignment, and photograph of all 343 fallen firefighters.  The photographs were gathered by the New York Times and graciously made available to the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes for the memorial.  A local artist,   Ms. Sandy Boyer, donated a beautiful painting of the famous 9-11 photo of firemen raising the American flag at the site of the tragedy.

Pictures of the ceremony are included below.

Speakers

The Phoenix and Mesa FD combined Color Guard, followed by the Mesa FD Pipe & Drum Corps.

In the front row of the audience was a team of FDNY firefighters who were biking across the nation to thank cities for its support of FDNY..

In the bell ceremony a firefighter strikes the bell five times, pauses, strikes five more times, pauses, and then strikes a final five times.  In many departments with the old fire alarm telegraph systems, 5-5-5 was the signal for fire companies to return to quarters.  The ceremony symbolizes the return to heaven of firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Hall of Flame Vice President Bert Getz salutes the flag together with members of the Color Guard.

The Mesa Pipe & Drum Corps performed throughout the ceremony.  Lead piper Eric Landau, center, is a Hall of Flame volunteer.

Firefighter Louis Giaconelli and Chief George Pickett unveiled the Memorial.

Following the ceremony several members of the audience took pictures of individual feirefighters on the memorial, including this FDNY member who took a photograph of Chief Ray Downey.

The memorial will be on permanent exhibit in the National Firefighting hall of Heroes gallery.

A detail of the memorial.

Artist Sandy Boyer donated this painting of the Ground Zero photograph.  It is on display next to the FDNY Memorial.