SIMON CRITTLE
NY Post Online
November 6, 2001 -- Firefighters David Arce and Michael Boyle did almost everything together.
They grew up together in Westbury, L.I., went to the same high school, joined the Fire Department together and both ended up at Engine Co. 33 in Manhattan.
And, on Sept. 11, while helping evacuate people from the north tower of the World Trade Center, they died together.
"What a beautiful friendship," said family friend John Mills at the joint memorial service, which attracted more than a thousand mourners including Mayor Giuliani, former New York Gov. Hugh Carey and Edward Cardinal Egan, yesterday at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
"Instead of coming down, they were there to meet their destiny and they're gone - for eternity, forever."
They were also remembered as individuals and as heroes.
Boyle, 37, son of James Boyle, retired president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association, was eulogized as an outgoing person who was heavily involved in the union.
"I know how proud he was the day he put on that blue uniform, how proud his family was, how proud his dad was," Mills said.
Arce, 36, was remembered as a quiet and caring man affectionately known as "Buddha."
His brother Peter said: "It is an appropriate nickname, because Buddha means [enlightened one], and we would like to think he was enlightened as to why we are here."
"It was his conviction that we are here to aid and to serve. That every encounter, he came with the attitude, ‘What can I do to help?'"
Mayor Giuliani said the friends, who were neighbors as children, were among the greatest heroes in the history of New York City.
"It may be a long list of heroes, but they are all entitled to individual respect and honor," he said.
Outside the cathedral on Fifth Avenue, which was blocked to traffic, hundreds of firefighters wearing white gloves formed an honor guard as family and friends entered the building.
Boyle and Arce, neither of whom were married, are still missing. Instead of coffins, photographs of the men were placed at the front of the church.
Also yesterday, hundreds gathered for the funeral service of Lt. Carl Bedigian, 35, who was killed at the WTC only a few weeks before his first wedding anniversary.
The service was held at St. Cecilia's Church in Brooklyn and the Rev. Kevin O'Donohue told The Post Bedigian and his wife, Michele, had planned to have a family.
"He was just a nice fellow, helpful to everybody. It's very sad." said O'Donohue.
Bedigian's body was recently found in a collapsed stairway along with several other firefighters and the hose they had been carrying.
In Ronkonkoma, L.I., a service was held for firefighter William Mahoney, 37, a father of four and an 11-year veteran of the department who had received two citations for valor.
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