The NFFF AND FDNY TEAM UP TO NEVER FORGET 24 YEARS LATER THIS OCTOBER recorded 8-4-25

Learn more about: National Fallen Firefighters Foundation/FDNY Memorial: Honoring Post-9/11 Heroes https://www.firehero.org/event... ! As referenced on One Leg Up With Alex Garrett earlier today!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Here's your host, Alex Garrett. In addition to telling you
the news and some adaptive stories, I want to also
continue to talk about events that are coming up and
next week on August twelfth, I have to say shout
out to PCNG for collaborating with the Viscardi Center to
once again bring wheelchair basketball to the Viscardi Center. Jim, So,

(00:23):
we're going to have a couple of folks from PSC
and G to talk about this tomorrow and stay tuned
for that. But what's also on my heart today is
an email I got at eight fifty am from Gary
Critchboum at Thefirehroo dot org. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
a FDNY will hold a special tribute for heroes lost

(00:45):
to Post nine to eleven illnesses this October eighteenth, in
partnership with the FDNY and the City of New York
on Senn Island. They will have a ceremony to honor
FDNY firefighters who died as a result of Post nine
to eleven related illnesses. These firefighters, until now had not

(01:08):
been formally recognized at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Msburg, Maryland.
The tribute will ensure their names are etched alongside their
fallen fellow heroes, permanently remembered by a grateful nation. This
is a moment I wanted to promote for NFFF, the

(01:29):
National Fallen Fighters Foundation, And this is the reason why
there's a Droga Act. Mattered so much to get all
these firefighters who risked their lives, and you know they
did survive for a long time, but with these illnesses
they deserve the coverage too. They deserved to be supported
as well. So to see the NFFF step up here

(01:51):
is really special. And I don't know if you have
been to know this. I met Robert Tucker earlier in
the year, the FDNY Commissioner, and he said, these firefighters
exemplified unwavering courage and devotion to duty, not just on
nine to eleven, but in the days, the months, and
the years that followed. Their sacrifices must never be forgotten,

(02:12):
and this tribute insures their place in history is secured
with honor dignity. There'll be a for memorial service, unveiling
of a commemberative plaque and the reading of each firefighter's name.
Family members, colleagues and supporters from across the country will
gather to pay tribute and remember these heroes. And I
do hope although he was on the NYPD side, you know,

(02:37):
I believe Commissioner Carrick must have had issues that led
to his early I mean, sixty nine is very early
to pass along. It had to be related to Post
nine to eleven. Maybe they put his name up there
as well with the firefighters, because my goodness, what effort
it was to bring our city back, to save our

(02:58):
city that day and save who they that day, and
they list off all the different names. I will bring
on someone from the NFFF or the fn and why
to talk about this. But I know it's middle of
the beginning of August and nine to eleven is literally
about a month away from commemorating. But it's worthy to

(03:21):
talk about this event now, to get it on your radar,
to be there on October twenty eighteenth in Staten Island,
and to find out more from the National Fallen Fighter
Fighters Foundation because they risked their all the day we
were attacked nine to eleven two thousand and one. And

(03:44):
I love that they're going to honor these those who
pass from Post nine to eleven illnesses as part of
the fallen because let's face it, they did go in there.
They were there in the debris, they were there in
the smoke and the ash, trying to recover who they could,
each and every one of these firefighters, and they should

(04:06):
be honored. And for twenty four years, I'm sure this
was in the making and talked about a lot. Obviously
getting these a DJOGA Act was important as well, but
Troy Markle, the board chairman of the National Fallen Founder
Fallen Firefighters Foundation, said, each firefighter we honor today exemplifies

(04:27):
the true spirit a sacrifice and dedication. This tribute is
our solemn commitment to ensure their stories live on, their
families are supported, and their legacies inspire future generations. That's
what this is about, is to keep their legacy alive,
keep their legacy going. And the CEO of the National

(04:50):
Fallen Firefighters Foundation says, honoring these brave firefighters is more
than recognition. It's a promise that their sacrifice will never
be forgotten and their families always have our support. And
you can donate at firehro dot org backslash donate and
I do hope to get some leadership and FDN life

(05:12):
is was on before this major tribute occurs October eighteenth
on Staten Island. Just so we can keep this on
your radar as well. I know we were all affected
by nine to eleven. We had family members that died
on nine eleven. We had folks that were friends. I'm
sure that are listening right now. You know, friends that

(05:34):
pastor that were killed on nine to eleven, risking it all.
And now it's time to get back to the families
of those that have gone before us. And I love
that the National Firefighters Foundation has carried the torch if
you will to honor these firefighters. And I'm looking here

(05:57):
at the amount. I mean, there are at least twenty
plus names that are gonna be honored that day, probably
fifty actually that day because they f to n Why
did lose a lot? I mean, look at what they
put up above the latter ten in right across the
street from where the tragedy, the terror attack happened. Three

(06:18):
hundred and forty three firefighters killed that day alone. This
will just unfortunately add to that list of those that
have perished due to nine to eleven. And just because
they survived and were dealing with these illnesses doesn't mean
they shouldn't have been honored any less than those that

(06:39):
died on nine to eleven. Am I right, Ryan, any
less than those that died on nine to eleven, because
they all died for the same cause, and they all
had illnesses for the same cause. To save people. That's
what the firefighter and they have done. Firefighter NYPD, That's
what these departments do is save lives. And so I

(07:00):
will make an effort to be there on October eighteenth
to honor the fallen and maybe you'll join us there
as well, and we can all in a somber way
stand by the families of these fallen heroes. That's all
I want to say to that on the one look
Up network, because this kind of memorial, this kind of

(07:24):
event overshines any struggles the Yanks have, outshines any politic
political nonsense going on. This is where the community comes together.
And we got to remember that the biggest thing about
New York City is community does come together. The biggest
thing about America is in times of tragedy, community comes together.

(07:47):
Even in times of triumph, community comes together. But this
moment right here is so important for these firefighters to
be honored that I I would love to be part
of you know continue to talk about this and continue
to support the National Fallen Founder Fallen Firefighters Foundation in

(08:07):
their efforts to honor our own here in New York City.
That's how we have one leg up on honoring those
killed in nine to eleven