09/11/2026
Twenty-five years have passed since the morning of September 11, 2001, but the weight of that day remains etched into the heart of the American fire service and our nation’s history.
On that Tuesday, ordinary people woke up ready to face an ordinary day, unaware that their lives—and the course of our country—would change forever. When the unthinkable happened, the response was immediate and resolute. Without hesitation, hundreds of firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and first responders rushed toward danger as others fled. They climbed stairwells into collapsing towers, driven by a singular, sacred commitment: to save lives, no matter the personal cost.
The toll paid on that day remains the heaviest loss of emergency responders in a single event in our nation’s history. 343 members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), 71 law enforcement officers, and countless civilian lives were lost. In the days, months, and years that followed, hundreds more have answered a final alarm due to illnesses stemming from Ground Zero. Their sacrifice is a solemn reminder of the true cost of service.
Today, we pause to honor and remember every life lost on 9/11—both the innocent victims and the brave souls who gave everything. We remember the enduring grief of their families and the strength of a nation that refused to break in its darkest hour.
For those of us who wear the gear today, September 11 is more than a date on the calendar. It is a reflection of the oath we take. It is a commitment to carry forward the legacy of courage, selflessness, and brotherhood demonstrated by those who walked into the smoke twenty-five years ago.
We will never forget.
