by Vincent Barone
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — The Rescue 5 firehouse doors are graced with a mural of 11 empty boots, a pair for each firefighter the company lost responding to the 9/11 attacks. For the past 13 years, the company has gathered at the Concord Station to honor all 2,983 September 11 victims.
Ceremonies started with a company breakfast, followed by six moments of silence, in observance of when the North and South towers were struck; when Flight 77 hit the Pentagon; when Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pa., and when the North Tower ultimately came down.
The company then hosts an 11 a.m mass at Holy Rosary Church in South Beach before continuing to Snug Harbor for a firefighter family luncheon.
“This is a big family and it’s our day to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11,” said firefighter Joe Esposito of Dongan Hills.
Esposito’s family, as well as the families of other Rescue 5 firefighters were in attendance for the ceremonies. The firefighter believes that the date should be a national holiday.
“There is a lot of anxiety leading up to the day. On Staten Island, and across the country, someone is affected by the attacks. It really should be a national day of remembrance,” Esposito said. “This is our day together.
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