New Yorkers remember 9/11 with events honoring those killed, first responders, the city's resilience
New York is remembering 9/11 in numerous ways throughout the day Thursday, with somber events that also reflect the resilience of the city, marking the final hours leading up to 25 years since the deadliest terror attacks in the country's history.
Firehouses and EMS stations across the city opened their doors to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors were invited to go and meet firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, and learn about the department's work and history.
Gov. Kathy Hochul visited Engine 16/Ladder 7 in Kips Bay to announce that $2 million previously earmarked in the state budget is now there for cancer research involving 9/11 first responders.
"We'll never forget that day then, now or forever, and this is a small token of our appreciation to show that we'll continue to fight for the health of those that went into the fire," Hochul said.
"To date, we've had 452 members that responded to the Trade Center killed from 9/11 illnesses," FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Daniel Flynn said.
Many more remain sick.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, which is conducting the research, says over 4,000 of the 15,000 FDNY World Trade Center-exposed members have cancer. Among the top five cancers are blood cancers, predominantly leukemia and lymphoma.
"To identify those people with early signs or the possibility of developing blood cancer is crucial because early diagnosis leads to early treatment, which leads to survival," Dr. David Prezant said. "When we look at our cancer patients and track them five years after their diagnosis, 86% of them have survived. Compared to non-World Trade Center-exposed people with the same cancer, five years later only 63% have survived."
Engine 235 in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, held their own ceremony with the FDNY memorial wall as its backdrop. They made the trip there to honor their fellow members who made the same trip 25 years ago. Six never came back.
"We still miss them," retired Engine 235 firefighter Jim Cashin said. "As time goes on, we'll never forget them, that's for sure."
Cashin returns every year on the night of Sept. 10. His shift ended 25 years ago on that night, handing things over to the members who were first to respond from the firehouse.
"I was off that day. I got off that morning. Then we got called in on recall," he said. "All firefighters were called by the fire department to come in. Made our way down here, looking for our guys, and that was it."
For Cashin and so many New Yorkers, even after a quarter-century, just being at the 9/11 Memorial is still difficult.
"It took me 15 years to come down here," said Dave Hegarty, who said he lost several friends on 9/11. "Couldn't do it ... This is only my second time here. I find it very difficult to come down here and be here where we lost everyone."
The Wellers were living in the West Village at the time of the attacks. They visited the memorial Thursday night to pay tribute to friends they lost, but also to reflect on the power of watching the city they love rebuild and come together.
"You saw cops on the street, you thanked them. You saw firemen, you thanked them. We were so united," Michele Festa-Weller said. "It's the most horrific day in history that we can remember, and we want other future generations not to forget."
Elsewhere, Sen. Charles Schumer spoke at 7 World Trade, the first commercial office building rebuilt at the site after the attacks. He reflected on the resurgence of Lower Manhattan.
"Now there are more than 10 million square feet of office space, half a million square feet of retail, and the office buildings are filled with a new mix of employees. It wasn't just going to be financial anymore," Schumer said. "There are now 37,000 apartments, up from 13,000 before the disaster. The population is 70,000, up from 22,000."
Nearly 200 bike riders also finished a 343-mile journey from Boston to Ground Zero, with each mile representing the FDNY members killed on 9/11.
In Manhattan, St. Patrick's Cathedral held a special memorial Mass at 5 p.m. Families who lost loved ones, including those who died of 9/11-related illnesses, were among those invited. Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the Mass.
Thousands of volunteers are also spending this week packing meals at the Intrepid for New Yorkers facing food insecurity. Mamdani joined the cause there Wednesday, helping to pack meals. The four-day event runs through Friday to pack more than 3 million meals in the city alone.
Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, Jon Stewart, Pete Davidson, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr and others came together for a 9/11 charity comedy benefit.
For Davidson, it's deeply personal as his father, Scott Davidson, was a firefighter killed on Sept. 11.
