09/11/2026
September 11, 2001 – 25 Years Later: We Will Never Forget
Quarter of a century. 25 years have passed since September 11, 2001, but for the fire service, time does not blur the memory, erase the loss, or diminish the sacrifice.
Today, we pause to honor, remember, and reaffirm our solemn promise: Never Forget.
We remember the 2,977 innocent lives lost on that clear Tuesday morning. We honor the ultimate sacrifice of the 343 FDNY firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, and 8 paramedics who answered the call without hesitation, charging up the stairs while others were running down.
Behind those numbers were brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, friends, and family - first responders who lived by the core oath of our service: to put the lives of strangers above their own.
In the 25 years since, the cost of that day has continued to grow. Hundreds more firefighters and first responders have lost their lives to line-of-duty 9/11-related illnesses, fighting battles long after the dust settled at Ground Zero.
To the families who carry the weight of those missing places at the dinner table: we stand with you.
To the next generation who was not yet born on 9/11/01: we carry these stories forward so you understand the true meaning of duty, courage, and community.
Today, and every day, we honor the fallen by standing ready to answer the call, just as they did.
Forever in our hearts. Always on duty.
