As of the day I am writing this editorial, the bodies of 59 of the 343 New York City firefighters who died at the World Trade Center have been recovered. It has been a tough time for families, firefighters and friends - an even tougher time each morning, when the FDNY announces over the department radio of the signal 5-5-5-5 (line-of-duty death). "It is with regret that the department announces the death of seven firefighters who died of injuries sustained in the line of duty at 55-8087 which was transmitted on September 11, 2001, at 0847 hours."
Recently, the saddest element I read about each day in the newspaper is that the fire department has asked the public to attend these funerals and memorial services because the department membership is spread so thin. Usually, you'll see over 10,000 FDNY and other firefighters at a single line-of-duty funeral.
It was a tremendous price to pay on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when the ordinary person was going to work in offices or factories, or attending school. Little did the firefighters reporting for their tour of duty that morning or finishing up the night tour know the next run would be their last.
Since the World Trade Center and Pentagon incidents occurred, the public, government officials and almost all aspects of the media and sports world have taken a renewed look at the fire, police and EMS departments. Many New York sports teams wore FDNY, NYPD or Port Authority Police hats during recent games. Firefighters, police officers and EMS workers across the country participated in pre-game ceremonies and memorial services. TV anchors and sports commentators talked extensively about the emergency services. Emergency workers even were on hand to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange the first morning it was allowed to reopen.
Any member of the emergency services know the risks and dangers of doing his or her job; the horrors they must face and conditions they must endure. Being selfless, doing what is necessary to get the job done and asking nothing in return. Never getting the recognition or thanks after doing their job has almost become a way of life.
In Great Britain, nearly 800 firefighters were killed in air attacks, firefighting and rescue efforts during World War II. Three firefighters were killed in Honolulu during the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941.
It saddens me that it took the deaths of 343 firefighters and EMS workers and 55 police officers during the single worst terrorist incident in the world that killed nearly 6,000 civilians to elevate emergency services workers to a well-respected level they had always hoped for, but never achieved.
Firefighters and other emergency workers have been working tirelessly on a nationwide effort raising money for the widows and orphans from the World Trade Center. The amount of money that the public has contributed to these funds is unprecedented. Hopefully, all the money slated for these worthwhile purposes finds it way to the right people.
As we continue the recovery and healing process we must focus on the future. The reemergence of the threat of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons have reared its ugly head. As in all such cases, as was so aptly shown in the World Trade Center and Pentagon disasters, the fire and emergency services are the first responders. Training, equipment and coordination are a key to future success in these potential troubled times. The key to achieving these mandates are continued funding from the city, state and federal levels. Funding for the fire service from the Congress seems to be gaining strength for added funds. It must continue each and every year.
Again, it is a crying shame that it took these recent attacks to prove what the fire service has been saying all along. We are the first responders, we need funding, training and equipment, and we need it now. We have known all along what could happen. The public and the government have now seen what can happen and now is the time for all the people in key government positions to get together and allow all of us to have the items we all need so desperately.
Nationally, the fires, emergencies, EMS incidents and all the thousands of other types of incidents we are called to each and every day are not going to go away. We must rethink all the things we do and work safer than ever. The public needs us more than ever, with the best equipment and training, and we have to continue to be brave and answer the next call.
