Today, as has happened every year since
that first 9-11, we had a ceremony in front of the 6th
Precinct. Standing in formation, the names of NY Police Officers
who died that day are read aloud by members of the command. I was
honored to read out one of them. In recent years, new names have been
added to that list as more are 'officially' cited as having died as a
result of working at rescue and then recovery at the site..
Our precinct is in Greenwich Village
and the Twin Towers were visible from most avenues. On that morning
PO James Leahy was in his patrol car when the first plane hit. He
did not return. I have written a bit about his heroism that day in
past posts. I wear a button with his photo on my uniform every year
at the ceremony. It could officially be classified as an
“Unauthorized Uniform Adornment.” That is a rule I am happy to
break.
Each year Jim's family had chosen to
come to the 6th for our ceremony. They could have been
welcomed participants at the large, televised event at 'Ground
Zero,' but they come here instead. I always look forward to
exchanging a few words with his widow and his brother Arthur. Art was
also a cop in the 6th. He is now a detective in another borough. This
year, probably my last in uniform, we shot a snapshot together.
Art also wears a medal call The Combat
Cross. It is one of the highest decorations a Police Officer can
receive. He earned it on the night of March 14, 2007 in a firefight
with a killer who had just shot my two brother Auxiliary Officers,
Gene Marshalik and Nick Pecaro. The Leahy's are a family of heroes.
On my way home, I passed a firehouse,
the 18th Squad. Nobody who rode out that morning 14
years ago returned. As it happened, the firefighters were lining up
to mark the time the first tower collapses. It was yet another sad
moment in a sad day. Never forget.
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