Maryland Rescue Squad is Dedicated to the Heros of 9/11

A shiny, white truck with gold stripes made its way into the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Saturday with the help of two New York City firefighters at the wheel and rescue squad volunteers pretending to push it from behind.

Those in attendance, including dozens of B-CC Rescue Squad volunteers, applauded and whooped after the truck was driven into the garage after an old truck was taken out.

The symbolic gesture of driving an old rescue vehicle out and replacing it with "Rescue Squad 18" was bittersweet. It celebrated the brand-new truck, but mourned the 11 firefighters of New York Rescue Company 1 who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

A plaque mounted in the crew seating area of the 20-foot-long truck commemorates the lives of fallen FDNY firefighters who were attempting to save occupants of the World Trade Center, reading:

"Ceremony of Rescue Squad 18 is dedicated to the Fallen Heroes of September 11, 2001 from FDNY Rescue Co. 1."

It also reads the names of those who died: Capt. Terence S. Hatton, Lt. Dennis Mojica, Joseph J. Angelini, Patrick O' Keefe, Gary P. Geidel, Michael G. Montesi, Gerard T. Nevis, William L. Henry, David M. Weiss, Kenneth J. Marino and Brian E. Sweeney.

Deputy Chief James Master, who initiated the design of the truck in March 1999, said it was fitting to dedicate the vehicle to fallen New York firefighters. Plans to build the truck were delayed because Saulsbury Fire Apparatus in Tully, N.Y., was busy rebuilding New York City's fleet of rescue trucks after Sept. 11.

The custom-designed truck is equipped with new rescue equipment, built-in generators, exterior lights and high-pressure air bags capable of lifting a Metro train car. Squad trucks are most commonly used for rescuing victims of serious automobile collisions and for search-and-rescue missions in burning buildings.

The $750,000 truck was purchased with the help of community donations and a state grant, said Chief Ned Sherburne. Ninety-one percent of the funds were from donations and 9 percent from a grant. Sherburne said B-CC Rescue Squad relies on money contributions from individuals and businesses, and does not accept tax funding from the county.

Firefighter Mike Shunk of New York City's Rescue Squad 1 said it is the support from communities and other rescue squads that enable New York City firefighters to move on with their lives and cope with the loss of their brothers.

"There's a lot of days, especially Sept. 14 and 15, you've been to work and you really don't know how you're going to continue," Shunk said. "And then you see the phone calls, the handshakes, people coming by, it makes all the difference between the public support throughout the country, the rest of the rescue companies."

Shunk, a native of New York and a Rescue Company 1 firefighter for 10 years, described Sept. 11 as an unbelievable day. He said he was a firefighter in Alexandria, Va., for 10 years before joining the FDNY. A total of 344 firefighters died amidst the collapse of the World Trade Centers in lower Manhattan.

"It was the longest day of my life, and I've lost two years of my life since then," he said. Shunk was accompanied by fellow FDNY firefighter Joel Kanasi to represent the 11 families and firefighters.

He lauded B-CC Rescue Squad for its support of Rescue Company 1.

"It's pretty cool in the fact that it makes it a lot easier to work every day, and it definitely makes it a lot easier to face the wives and the kids knowing they have support from all over the country," Shunk said.

David Chaconas, B-CC Rescue Squad's board president; Councilman Howard A. Denis (R-Dist. 1) of Chevy Chase; Gordon A. Aoyagi, county fire administrator; a spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington; Deputy Chief James Master; and Chief Ned Sherburne lauded the efforts of those who risk their lives to save others.

B-CC Rescue Squad is comprised of more than 150 active volunteer firefighters and paramedics, and a full-time staff of 10. The squad responded to more than 10,000 emergency calls in Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Glen Echo, Cabin John and some parts of Washington, D.C. last year. Volunteers and paramedics from Bethesda were dispatched to the Pentagon on Sept. 11.

"The incredibly horrific thing was the first day of the war that we are still in, and you were one of the first responders," Denis said. "We know that you were there in Virginia, the Pentagon on Sept. 11. You are our soldiers."

"Our fire and rescue are extremely important to the county and we're very, very proud of you, and we want to make sure that we continue to provide the best equipment and the best of everything that you need to continue doing the fabulous job that you're doing," he said.