09/12/2026
Early this year, our department had the honor of welcoming John Martin to our station as he traveled across the country on a mission to remember those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001.
John, a retired California firefighter, embarked on a cross-country bicycle journey dedicated to honoring the victims of 9/11. Along the way, he carried memorial dog tags bearing the names of those who lost their lives, entrusting them to fire departments along his route. He rode approximately 9.11 miles each day, with each mile serving as a tribute to those who never came home. Today, September 11, 2026, his journey concluded at Ground Zero.
During his visit to our station, John entrusted our department with one of those dog tags:
Firefighter Thomas M. Butler
FDNY Squad 1
Thomas was 37 years old—a husband, father of three, and firefighter who gave his life on September 11, 2001.
The dog tag John entrusted to us has remained with our department. Tonight, as our crew provides standby coverage for our local high school football game, Thomas' dog tag will be with us.
It may seem like a small thing, but it represents something much bigger.
A name carried across the country.
A name carried into our firehouse.
And tonight, a name carried into our community.
September 11, 2001, was more than a date in history. It was nearly 3,000 lives lost, families changed forever, and thousands of first responders who answered the call— many of whom would later pay the price for the work they did that day and in the aftermath.
We remember the 343 FDNY firefighters, the 23 NYPD officers, the 37 Port Authority officers, the other first responders, and every civilian who lost their life. We remember their families. We remember those who ran toward the danger.
And we remember that behind every name was a person—a husband or wife, a father or mother, a son or daughter, a friend, a coworker, and someone who had people waiting for them to come home.
🇺🇸 We remember. We honor. We will never forget.
