Honors Firefighters' Bravery: 9/11 Wall a Fitting Tribute

Honors Firefighters' Bravery

9/11 Wall a Fitting Tribute

The 9/11 Memorial Wall that runs along the west side of the 10-10 firehouse in lower Manhattan was revealed to the public just two weeks ago, but it's already the crowd favorite among tourists visiting Ground Zero.

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James BRAVEST IN BRONZE: Friends Josephine Aten (foreground) and Magdalena Curcui were among the many visitors to 10-10 Firehouse at 124 Liberty St. to see the 9/11 Memorial Wall unveiled June 10. The three-panel sculpture, stretching 56 feet along the firehouse wall, was made possible by a grassroots fundraising effort from the Holland and Knight law firm. One of the firm's partners, Glenn J. Winuk, a volunteer firefighter, died on 9/11 trying to assist with rescues out of the South Tower. Large groups milled at the corner of Liberty and Greenwich Sts. June 16, standing in the shadow of the black-swathed Deutsche Bank building and occasionally trying to peer inside the tightly-closed windows of the 124 Liberty St. home of Engine Co. 10 and Ladder Co. 10.

"What a wonderful thing," one visitor remarked, studying a detailed Halligan hook held in the hand of a bronzed firefighter, forever memorialized in the 6-foot high, 7,000-pound triptych sculpture that was more than three years in the making.

Modeled after a famous piece of ancient Roman artwork that depicts the unfolding of an event across a column, the Memorial Wall is a snapshot of what was happening around the World Trade Center the moment the second airplane hit the South Tower.

Survivors Included

It's a tribute to the 343 members of the Fire Department who perished, and, as is written across its top, to "those who carry on."

It was also designed to honor the memory of volunteer firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician Glenn J. Winuk, who on the morning of Sept. 11 ran out of the law firm where he worked at 195 Broadway and toward the burning buildings to help. He died when the South Tower collapsed, and his remains were found in the footprint of the building.

His partners and colleagues at the firm of Holland and Knight began a grassroots campaign to build a tribute dedicated to Mr. Winuk and other firefighters.

"We hope that this serves as a reminder to everyone who passes by that these men and women were true heroes that we will never forget," said Brian D. Starer, chair of Holland and Knight's 9/11 Memorial Wall Committee and vice president of the Holland and Knight Charitable Foundation. "This memorial represents our immense gratitude to Glenn and every member of the Fire Department who made the ultimate sacrifice, and honors all those who died."

Created by the Rambusch Company, a New Jersey firm of artisans, the Memorial Wall was painstakingly designed to present 9/11 in striking verisimilitude, and even the minutiae of firefighter uniforms and equipment are strikingly correct.

But a closer look reveals that the badges, while bearing the right insignias, are devoid of names. The fire engine moving toward the towers from the right panel has "Tower Ladder 343" carved on its side. The official department symbol, similar to an Irish shamrock, has "343" in its middle. The sculpture identifies no one, but represents everyone, the creative team said.

Bush: 'Always Remember'

The unveiling ceremony June 10, selected because it was the fourth anniversary of the day the FDNY stopped its rescue efforts at Ground Zero, was attended by members of Holland and Knight, former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, as well as many other members of the department.

It featured a video message from President Bush.

"The time for mourning may pass, but the time for remembering never does," he said, as his video played at the start of the ceremony.

The FDNY had invited Mr. Bush to attend, but scheduling conflicts and security concerns made it impossible.

An FDNY source said Mr. Bush agreed to send a video message after Stephen J. Cassidy, president of the Uniformed Firefighters' Association, called with the request. Mr. Cassidy reportedly put in calls to Governor Pataki's office and Mayor Bloomberg's office as well. Both men were unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts, but sent taped messages after being informed that the President was doing the same.

The source added that the UFA and the Uniformed Fire Officers' Association had helped with the costs of the unveiling events over the June 10 weekend.

A listing of active FDNY members lost on 9/11 is displayed on the sculpture by rank and in alphabetical order, with each member's company number. A timeline of major milestone events pertaining to attacks and the Department's rescue and recovery effort is also incorporated into the base of the rendering.