FDNY Commissioner: We still remember the people who died heroically on 9/11

FDNY Commissioner: We still remember the people who died heroically on 9/11

A view of One World Trade Center from the North Pool, which marks the former site of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, at Ground Zero.- AFP

(Vatican Radio) Americans are Monday marking the 16th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Thousands of 9/11 victims' relatives, survivors, rescuers and others were expected to gather at the World Trade Center to remember the worst terror attack on American soil.

Nearly 3,000 people died when hijacked planes slammed into the trade center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2001.

US President Donald Trump, was scheduled to observe a moment of silence at about the time the first airplane hit.

Daniel Nigro is the Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department and was Chief of Operations, which meant making sure fire fighters had what they needed to do their jobs, at the time of the 9/11 attacks.

On that day, 340 firefighters, two paramedics and one FDNY chaplain died.

Speaking about the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the FDNY Commissioner says that, “the time that passes by doesn’t really change our feelings, you know, we still remember the event and we still remember the people who died heroically on 9/11. So although it’s sixteen years later, for the members of the fire department the time doesn’t really matter.”

Faith and Courage

Asked about the faith and courage of the people of New York and how it has helped heal the wounds of that day, the Commissioner notes that the “example of courage, and we see it with every disaster that occurs whether it’s 9/11 or here in Italy in earthquakes…it helps people survive terrible events, it sets an example for others that despite the losses people can show courage.”

United We Stand

“United We Stand” was the response of the American people following the terrible events of September 11. Daniel Nigro says that the legacy of that response is that tremendous preparation has been done for other attacks. “Our fire department, our police department work together very closely to be sure that we are as prepared as we can possibly be for any attacks from those who would harm us.”

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