Staten Island ceremony honors FDNY members lost on September 11 and those who later died from 9/11-related illnesses
Fahad Solaiman
Twenty-five years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the pain of that tragic day remains deeply etched in the heart of New York.
A solemn remembrance ceremony on Staten Island brought together FDNY families, firefighters and community members to honor not only the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11, but also the many members of the department who died in the years that followed from illnesses linked to their work at Ground Zero.
The gathering served as a powerful reminder that the human cost of September 11 did not end when the towers fell. For many first responders, the dust, smoke and toxic conditions at Ground Zero became a health threat that would follow them for decades.
The ceremony featured a moving display of American flags honoring firefighters who died on September 11 and those who later lost their lives to 9/11-related illnesses. A New York City fireboat also participated in a traditional water salute, while two ladder trucks displayed a massive American flag, creating a deeply emotional setting for families and fellow firefighters.
Among those remembered was Robert Welsh III, who died in August 2023 from glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer associated with his exposure to the conditions at Ground Zero. Welsh had participated in rescue and recovery operations following the attacks.
Another family remembered Thomas Glenn Smith Sr., a member of FDNY’s Brooklyn Heights-based Unit 224, known as the “Trench Dogs.” Smith died earlier this year from lung cancer linked to his 9/11 exposure.
For the families, the ceremony was more than a memorial. It was an opportunity to remember fathers, husbands, sons, brothers and colleagues whose lives were forever changed by the events of September 11.
A death toll that continued long after 2001
The legacy of 9/11 extends far beyond the immediate loss of life. Thousands of first responders and survivors have suffered serious illnesses after exposure to the toxic environment at the World Trade Center site.
The number of FDNY members who have died from 9/11-related illnesses has now surpassed the number of firefighters killed on the day of the attacks. More than 12,000 FDNY members have been identified as suffering from at least one 9/11-related illness.
For New York’s firefighters, September 11 is therefore not simply a chapter in history. It is a continuing story of sacrifice, courage, loss and resilience.
Twenty-five years later, families continue to carry the memories of those they lost. And the message remains unchanged:
Never Forget.
Not simply as a slogan, but as a promise—to remember those who ran toward danger when others were running away, to honor those who gave their lives, and to stand beside the families who continue to live with the consequences of that unforgettable day.
