Rockland Fire Department dedicates Twin Tower steel at 911 remembrance
Members of the Rockland Fire and Police departments line up behind the 9/11 Memorial that sits at the corner of the fire station lot. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
A piece of World Trade Center steel that was donated to the city of Rockland by the New York City Fire Department. SteelPro created the pedestal on which the historic piece of steel now rests.
From left, Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock and firefighter Carl Anderson
Members of the South Thomaston Fire Department acted as color guard for Rockland Fire Department’s 9/11 remembrance.
Rockland police officers Kenneth Smith, Scott Solorzano and Chief Bruce Boucher join in Sunday’s 9/11 remembrance.
Rockland police officer and Rockport firefighter William Smith and 9/11 survivor Lynn Tierney, who was the New York Fire Department deputy commissioner at the time of the attacks.
Rockland Mayor Louise MacLellen-Ruf.
Members of the honor guard.
Members of the Rockland Fire and Police departments line up behind the 9/11 Memorial that sits at the corner of the fire station lot. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)
A piece of World Trade Center steel that was donated to the city of Rockland by the New York City Fire Department. SteelPro created the pedestal on which the historic piece of steel now rests.
From left, Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock and firefighter Carl Anderson
Members of the South Thomaston Fire Department acted as color guard for Rockland Fire Department’s 9/11 remembrance.
Rockland police officers Kenneth Smith, Scott Solorzano and Chief Bruce Boucher join in Sunday’s 9/11 remembrance.
Rockland police officer and Rockport firefighter William Smith and 9/11 survivor Lynn Tierney, who was the New York Fire Department deputy commissioner at the time of the attacks.
Rockland Mayor Louise MacLellen-Ruf.
Members of the honor guard.
ROCKLAND — In a somber ceremony on the morning of Sept. 11, the Rockland Fire Department remembered and honored the victims of the tragic 9/11 attack 15 years ago this date, an event that brought down New York City’s World Trade Center Twin Towers and resulted in a huge loss of life to civilians, firefighters, police and EMS.
Since 2012 the Rockland Fire Department has held a ceremony to remember those who perished in the aftermath of the two commercial airliners that terrorists commandeered and deliberately flew into the towers.
Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock said that every year the ceremony is bigger, and better in its tribute.
“It was good, the weather held and the rain held off, we were lucky,” Whytock said. “I couldn’t be happier. Carl and the guys put everything together and they did a great job. They are top-notch.”
This year, a piece of steel was added to the Fire Department’s 9/11 memorial. The piece was part of the structure of one of the 110-story towers. It was given to the city by Lynn Tierney, former deputy commissioner of the New York City Fire Department.
Tierney recalled her experience that day. She said she went into the tunnels of the towers with 15 other firefighters. She was the only one who escaped. Tierney said she arranged the donation of the steel because she is now a resident of Rockland, and it is her fire station.
Rockland Mayor Louise MacLellan-Ruf spoke of how a year ago, Tierney had contacted the city and asked if they would like to have a piece of steel from the World Trade Center’s twin towers. In her remarks, MacLellan-Ruf said she wasn’t sure how she was going to speak on this occasion.
“The thought is, how do you not tear up on a day like today?” the mayor said. “The tragedy is just as important, just as significant and just as sad as it was 15 years ago.”
Carl Anderson, president of Rockland Professional Firefighters 1584, and organizer of this year’s 9/11 events also spoke Sunday morning.
“People look to our profession as a respected and loyal one,” he said. “We are going to remember that fateful day 15 years ago. Three-hundred and forty-three firefighters, 37 police officers from the Port Authority, 23 police officers from PDNY, eight EMTs and paramedics and over 1,400 confirmed World Trade Center deaths since that day.”
Anderson said 15 years ago, Rockland Fire Station went through one of its darkest nights.
“Friends and neighbors, sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters were taken from us. With heartbreak and cruelty and quickness,” he said. “From the rescue workers who rushed to the scene, the firefighters who charged up the stairs, the passengers who stormed the cockpit - these patriots define the very nature of courage.”
Reach Chris Wolf at news@penbaypilot.com
Event Date
Address
United States
