FDNY Honors Its Dead
Living in Those They Inspired

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

The Fire Department's 99th Memorial Service flooded Riverside Drive with a familiar autumn sight Oct. 11 - thousands of white-gloved firefighters wearing dark blue jackets turned out to pay homage to members who died over the past year.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow REMEMBRANCE AND REGRET: Family members of Lieut. Howard Carpluk and Firefighter Michael Reilly, both killed in the line of duty Aug. 27 while fighting a Bronx blaze, stand for the wreath-laying ceremony during the annual FDNY memorial service Oct. 11.

Several thousand active and retired firefighters stood in formation at the foot of the Memorial Monument to honor Lieut. Howard J. Carpluk Jr. and Firefighter Michael C. Reilly, who died from injuries sustained while fighting a Bronx fire Aug. 27.

Seasoned Vet and Probie

Lieutenant Carpluk, a 20-year FDNY veteran, was twice awarded medals for meritorious acts during his career. Firefighter Reilly, a U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant who served in Iraq, had graduated from probationary school just six weeks before he died.

The Carpluk and Reilly families accepted the FDNY flags and Medals of Valor awarded to the survivors of members who die in the line of duty.

Medals of Supreme Sacrifice from the Uniformed Fire Officers' Association and the Uniformed Firefighters' Association were also presented to each family.

"Today we continue a nearly century-old tradition by honoring the courageous efforts of Lieutenant Carpluk and Firefighter Reilly," said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. "The legacy of all firefighters who make the supreme sacrifice is not confined to this monument, but rather lives on in the members they helped to train, the people they inspired and the lives saved because of their noble work."

Mayor Bloomberg also praised the fallen firefighters, paraphrasing a Winston Churchill quote by noting that the two men had the quality "that made all other virtues possible: courage."

Mark of Respect

The Chief-Leader/Michel Friang PAYING RESPECTS: Chief of Department Salvatore Cassano reaches out to a grieving family member at the Fire Department's 99th annual Memorial Day ceremony.

He thanked the off-duty firefighters who turned out in such great numbers, stating that their presence was a mark of respect more meaningful to the Carpluk and Reilly families than "any words that I can say."

At the close of his speech, he addressed the firefighters directly, telling them the city was committed to their safety and pledging to continue the tradition of giving them the "very best equipment, training and leadership."

Also remembered at the ceremony were five active members of the FDNY who died since October 2005.

Honor EMS's Fallen

They were Firefighter Micah Bumb, Ladder Company 160; Firefighter Thomas M. Sweetman Jr., Ladder Company 135; Lieut. Reinaldo Natal, Field Communications Unit; Firefighter William M. Moran, Ladder Company 19; and Firefighter Daniel E. Feltham, Ladder Company 86.

The ceremony also paid tribute to our members of the Emergency Medical Service Bureau: Emergency Medical Technician Felix Hernandez Jr., Station 17; Paramedic Deborah Reeve, Station 20; EMT Paul Langa, EMS Dispatch; and Paramedic Gregory Serena, Station 43.

Paramedic Reeve died March 15 from a rare form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure. EMT Hernandez died Oct. 23, 2005 from an unidentified lung illness. The families of both EMS workers believe their deaths were caused by exposure to toxins while working at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack.