Even in the freezing cold, New Yorkers visit the bronze 9/11 plaque dedicated to the brave firefighters who lost their lives on that dreadful day.

 

 

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.