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For whatever nonsensical reasoning I can come up with for
explaining my being out in the freezing cold last week; there I was, camera in
hand, eyes darting around like a hungry jackal, looking for something to shoot.
After an hour or so of meandering around in the cold shooting anything that
looked remotely interesting, I came upon the NYFD Memorial Wall. I had
photographed there before, but never at sunset, and I was intrigued by the way
the sun hit the memorial. This time I was more interested in the small details
than the monument itself, I was drawn to the line of flags that flapped in the
wind, above the memorial and equally enamored with the line of individual roses
tourists and visitors routinely lay at its base.
In 2001, the usual
quiet of an ordinary September morning was shattered when, at 8:46 AM, a
passenger airliner, piloted by Islamic extremists, struck the north tower of
the World Trade Center bursting into flames and spewing hundreds of gallons of
highly flammable fuel into the structure. At 9:03 AM, a second airliner struck
the south tower of the World Trade Center. The intense heat of the fuel-fed
inferno compromised both structures causing the south tower to collapse in a mere 56 minutes, at 9:59 AM; sending
thousands panicked New Yorkers frantically running away to avoid being engulfed
in a cloud of suffocating dust several stories high; the north tower collapsed
27 minutes later at 10:28 AM. That day, New York faced the most challenging,
devastating and harrowing day in its long and illustrious history. According to
New York Magazine, in the aftermath of that tragic morning 2,753 persons
perished, including 343 NYFD firefighters, 1 volunteer firefighter, 23 NYPD
police officers, and 37 Port Authority police officers. There was property
damage estimated at more than $20 billion and fires of various sizes and
intensities continued to burn for more than three months.
Witnessing the
carnage unfolding before him that fateful morning, Glenn J. Winuk a volunteer
firefighter with the Jericho, NY fire Department, a trained EMT, and partner
with the 1,200 attorney, law firm of Holland & Knight LLP, ran into the
fray. He had to do something; anything to help his fellow New Yorkers; in his
desire to save lives and assist those in need, Winuk made the ultimate
sacrifice that day. Wishing to commemorate and honor their fallen partner,
Holland & Knight through their
Holland & Knight Charitable
Foundation raised over half a million dollars to honor those who fell that day.
Unveiled on November
10, 2006, the wall commemorates the 344 NYFD firefighters, who lost their lives
on the terrible day in September, 2001. Firefighters, who ran toward the danger
to do what they do best, save lives. The solid bronze relief, designed by
Budapest born sculptor, Joseph Petrovics, is 6 feet high and 56 feet in length
and depicts the tragic events and heroic actions of that day; the relief is
also inscribed with the names of the 343 NYFD members who perished that day, as
well as a plaque honoring, Holland & Knight LLP partner, Glenn J. Winuk.
The die was cast by Bidi-Markky Art Foundry, Brooklyn, NY. When completed, the 7,000 pound
relief was then transported to the city in three sections.
Since its 2006
unveiling, each year, thousands visit the memorial to lay flowers, honor, and
remember the sacrifice made by these heroes. The Plaque functions as a memorial
for those perished that day, an acknowledgement of those who serve today and as
inspiration to those who will serve in the future.
There is no better way to end this than with the words of
Jay Winuk, brother of Glenn Winuk, I think this memorial is nothing short of a
statement to the world that in this city and country we value life; we value
courage; we value honor; and we honor those who sacrifice for others… we
survive adversity and then we flourish.
