On September 11, 2026, New York City marked the 25th anniversary of the deadliest day in the history of the fire service. The city’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, joined FDNY Chief of Department John Esposito and other officials for a wreath‑laying ceremony at the historic Firemen’s Memorial in Manhattan.
Remembering the fallen
Esposito, who recalled the tragedy during a 2024 commemoration, said the loss touched every rank of the department. “Twenty‑three years ago, the lives of everybody in this department, both uniform and civilian, changed forever. All ranks suffered losses. We lost our first deputy commissioner; we lost our chief of department; we lost probies on their first day in the firehouse. We lost fathers and sons, and we lost entire companies,” he said.
The New York City Fire Department lost 340 firefighters and fire officers, two paramedics and Chaplain Father Mychal Judge on that fateful day. Judge, designated Victim 0001 by the city medical examiner, is honored with his fire jacket displayed in the museum’s 9/11 exhibit.
Fire Museum’s tribute
The New York City Fire Museum opened its doors early that Friday, offering a special 9/11 exhibit that remained open to the public until 5 p.m. The exhibit features an art installation of tiles bearing the names and images of each fallen firefighter, as well as salvaged tools recovered from the World Trade Center wreckage.
In addition, the museum launched a six‑month exhibition titled “Ground Zero 360 Remembrance,” showcasing international contemporary art that honors victims, survivors and first responders.
A forgotten hero
Among those remembered was 27‑year‑old Keith Roma, a patrolman for the now‑defunct New York Fire Patrol. Though not listed among the 343 FDNY casualties, Roma gave his life protecting property and rescuing victims during the attacks.
Community gathering
After the formal ceremonies, New York’s pubs filled with firefighters and other first responders. At O’Hara’s, a bar salvaged from the wreckage, patrons raised a toast at 3:43 p.m., the moment the towers fell. Survivor Wendy Lanski described the scene as “like New Orleans and St. Patrick’s Day all rolled into one.” She added, “The only time you can drink in the street in New York is 9/11 because no one’s gonna stop you.”
The day’s events underscored the enduring gratitude of a city that continues to honor the bravery and sacrifice of its fire service families.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
