During the 9/11 attacks, 343 FDNY members died. More than 9,000 people have died from illnesses linked to the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath, including 600 firefighters, according to a report by the World Trade Center Health Program.
“It is a time when we remember those who responded without hesitation and then the tremendous sacrifices that followed as a result,” FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore said.
“This year, we added 36 names to our World Trade Center Memorial Wall — 36 more members of our family, 36 more lives forever woven into the story of the FDNY, 36 more reminders that the legacy of Sept. 11 doesn’t end on one single day.
“They devoted themselves to serving the people of our city, and in doing so, they became part of something larger than themselves. Their courage, compassion and commitment continue to inspire every member who wears this uniform.
“You often hear at the FDNY that we are a family. It is more than a phrase; it is a promise. It is a promise that comes deep from within our core. It means we celebrate together, we support each other, and when we mourn, we mourn together.”
William Arce performed a musical interlude. Mayor Zohran Mamdani also spoke.
“On 9/11, FDNY first responders answered the call when New Yorkers needed them most,” Mamdani said. “Day after day, they returned to Ground Zero to search for survivors through smoke and debris.
“Their sacrifice came at a staggering cost. In the years since, our city has lost more than 600 FDNY members to the effects of toxic exposure. Today, the names of another 36 members who died of 9/11-related illnesses in the past year were added to a Memorial Wall at FDNY headquarters.
“I was honored to join their families and the men and women of the FDNY to pay tribute to these fallen heroes. Their names are now forever etched in stone, and our city will never forget their courage and devotion.”