SENATOR BRUNO, GOVERNOR PATAKI HONOR FIREFIGHTERS LOST IN LINE OF DUTY IN 2001

Senator Bruno honored fallen firefighters during the Memorial Ceremony at the Empire State Plaza.

Ceremony at State Memorial Recognizes Record Number of Fallen Firefighters

Tuesday, October 8, 2002

Senator Bruno and Governor Pataki today were joined by hundreds of fire officials and families of firefighters at the Fifth Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony to honor 359 firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty in the year 2001 and seven who made the ultimate sacrifice in earlier years.

An unprecedented 347 firefighters died in the line of duty last year as they worked to save lives following the attacks and during the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on September 11. For the ten year period from 1990 to 2000, a total of 130 firefighters died in the line of duty.

"Today, in honoring these men in this small way, we record for history...for all the people who come after us and stand before this enduring granite wall...the profound respect and the boundless admiration that the grateful people of New York had for these heroes among us in the early years of the twenty-first century," Governor Pataki said.

"Our obligation to each of these men is to remember what they did, and to remember our debt," the Governor said. "As long as I am Governor B in fact, as long as I am alive B I will remember. And I know that all New Yorkers share that commitment."

"These men and women have dared to take risks -- placing their life on the line in their call to duty," Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. "New York�s firefighters are the fabric of our nation and I am pleased to be with their loved ones as we honor them here today."

Today�s ceremony includes a performance of the National Anthem by Firefighter Daniel Walker of the New York City Fire Department, the reading of each of the 366 firefighter names by uniformed personnel, a wreath placement by Presidents of the major fire organizations and Taps played by firefighter Julius Pontecorvo of the New York City Fire Department.

The New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial was dedicated by Governor Pataki in 1998. The memory and the valor of our fallen firefighters is commemorated at the Memorial Ceremony during Fire Prevention Week each year.

This year, Governor Pataki designated the week of October 6th -12th as Fire Prevention Week and October 8th as Firefighter Appreciation Day in New York State.

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