Stop Riding Coattails
With today being the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, many are quick to post, comment and showcase their remembrance.
We’ve reached an odd point in time where everyone has access to the open platform of social media and many organizations or individuals feel the need to make public statements out of fear for shame and punishment.
“Thoughts and prayers”
“we remember”
Here we are 23 years after the most significant event in fire service history doing exactly that, taking a “moment” of remembrance…which often is just a photo posted to twitter, then everyone moves on going about their day.
Not taking the time to know the names, look at the faces or listen to the stories.
Virtually everyone who was alive that day knows their exact whereabouts and what they were doing when they heard or saw the news. Many think back to that moment, to themselves.
“We remember” — where I was on 9/11 and how bad I felt watching it on the news that I’m going to post about it on twitter and tell everyone how good of a person I am…
Every day since that event people have flocked to the fire service and have held us to the standard that these men sacrificed for and yet almost none of us now even take the time to truly honor their sacrifice. We sit in the recliners and scroll on our phones while people outside are thinking we can do what those brave men did. We ride on the coattails of their acts of courage, bravery and heroism.
Hit it hard from the yard.
I climb the stairs every year and each year I am truly humbled with the growing realization that I could NEVER have done what those men did. Never would I have been able to make the climb, rescue hurt or trapped civilians and put out fire. But they did.
Every year, I climb stairs with a core group of Firefighters, 211’s best clients, family and friends as a humble ass kicking reminder that I need to show up each and every day with my A-game. To do the best that I can do because that’s what they did when the moment arose. These larger than life humans that are still praised and talked about 23 years later were the best that we could’ve had and they still died. Are we letting their sacrifice be watered down into a photo ripped off google with the caption “we remember” for the likes?
To ride someone’s coattails means to use their success to your advantage. To capitalize on the success of others. Fundamentally, the fire service is structured in a way that we do ride on the coattails of our predecessors. This has been how we grow and evolve. How we learn from tragedy. How we never let history repeat itself.
But how far does it have to go?
How many cookies does Mrs Smith have to bring us at christmas time because she thinks we’re heros?
How many kids enrolling in school to become a firefighter because “they like to help people”
Or worse
How many are signing up to do this job because of the frills.
Frills that unions fought for. That many became sick and died for.
All while treating the job like shit, waving fingers and riding coattails.
That day is forever etched into history as one of the worlds greatest tragedies. Although 343 brothers were lost (and continue to be lost due to 9/11 related cancers), many legends were only being born.
Take the time to learn some of their names, see their faces and listen to their stories.
Watch the Naudet brothers documentary
Watch Still Riding Rescue Company New York
Watch anything from that day thats not “9/11 inside job” garbage
Read Working with Giants from Chief John Norman
Read Ordinary Heros from Chief Joseph Pfeifer
Listen to stories from the Gettin Salty Podcast
Pick a name and look up his story.
Joseph Agnello, Lad.118
Lt. Brian Ahearn, Bat.13
Eric Allen, Sqd.18 (D)
Richard Allen, Lad.15
Capt. James Amato, Sqd.1
Calixto Anaya Jr., Eng.4
Joseph Angelini, Res.1 (D)
Joseph Angelini Jr., Lad.4
Faustino Apostol Jr., Bat.2
David Arce, Eng.33
Louis Arena, Lad.5 (D)
Carl Asaro, Bat.9 Lt.
Gregg Atlas, Eng.10
Gerald Atwood, Lad.21
Gerald Baptiste, Lad.9
A.C. Gerard Barbara, Cmd. Ctr.
Matthew Barnes, Lad.25
Arthur Barry, Lad.15
Lt. Steven Bates, Eng.235
Carl Bedigian, Eng.214
Stephen Belson, Bat.7
John Bergin, Res.5
Paul Beyer, Eng.6
Peter Bielfeld, Lad.42
Brian Bilcher, Sqd.1
Carl Bini, Res.5
Christopher Blackwell, Res.3
Michael Bocchino, Bat.48
Frank Bonomo, Eng.230
Gary Box, Sqd.1
Michael Boyle, Eng.33
Kevin Bracken, Eng.40
Michael Brennan, Lad.4
Peter Brennan, Res.4
Capt. Daniel Brethel, Lad.24 (D)
Capt. Patrick Brown, Lad.3
Andrew Brunn, Lad.5 (D)
Capt. Vincent Brunton, Lad.105
F.M. Ronald Bucca
Greg Buck, Eng.201
Capt. William Burke Jr., Eng.21
A.C. Donald Burns, Cmd. Ctr.
John Burnside, Lad.20
Thomas Butler, Sqd.1
Patrick Byrne, Lad.101
George Cain, Lad.7
Salvatore Calabro, Lad.101
Capt. Frank Callahan, Lad.35
Michael Cammarata, Lad.11
Brian Cannizzaro, Lad.101
Dennis Carey, Hmc.1
Michael Carlo, Eng.230
Michael Carroll, Lad.3
Peter Carroll, Sqd.1 (D)
Thomas Casoria, Eng.22
Michael Cawley, Lad.136
Vernon Cherry, Lad.118
Nicholas Chiofalo, Eng.235
John Chipura, Eng.219
Michael Clarke, Lad.2
Steven Coakley, Eng.217
Tarel Coleman, Sqd.252
John Collins, Lad.25
Robert Cordice, Sqd.1
Ruben Correa, Eng.74
James Coyle, Lad.3
Robert Crawford, Safety
Lt. John Crisci, H.M.
B.C. Dennis Cross, Bat.57 (D)
Thomas Cullen III, Sqd. 41
Robert Curatolo, Lad.16 (D)
Lt. Edward D'Atri, Sqd.1
Michael D'Auria, Eng.40
Scott Davidson, Lad.118
Edward Day, Lad.11
B.C. Thomas DeAngelis, Bat. 8
Manuel Delvalle, Eng.5
Martin DeMeo, H.M. 1
David DeRubbio, Eng.226
Lt. Andrew Desperito, Eng.1 (D)
B.C. Dennis Devlin, Bat.9
Gerard Dewan, Lad.3
George DiPasquale, Lad.2
Lt. Kevin Donnelly, Lad.3
Lt. Kevin Dowdell, Res.4
B.C. Raymond Downey, Soc.
Gerard Duffy, Lad.21
Capt. Martin Egan, Jr., Div.15 (D)
Michael Elferis, Eng.22
Francis Esposito, Eng.235
Lt. Michael Esposito, Sqd.1
Robert Evans, Eng.33
B.C. John Fanning, H.O.
Capt. Thomas Farino, Eng.26
Terrence Farrell, Res.4
Capt. Joseph Farrelly, Div.1 Dep. Comm.
William Feehan, (D)
Lee Fehling, Eng.235
Alan Feinberg, Bat.9
Michael Fiore, Res.5
Lt. John Fischer, Lad.20
Andre Fletcher, Res.5
John Florio, Eng.214
Lt. Michael Fodor, Lad.21
Thomas Foley, Res.3
David Fontana, Sqd.1
Robert Foti, Lad.7
Andrew Fredericks, Sqd.18
Lt. Peter Freund, Eng.55
Thomas Gambino Jr., Res.3
Chief of Dept. Peter Ganci, Jr. (D)
Lt. Charles Garbarini, Bat.9
Thomas Gardner, Hmc.1
Matthew Garvey, Sqd.1
Bruce Gary, Eng.40
Gary Geidel, Res.1 B.C.
Edward Geraghty, Bat.9
Dennis Germain, Lad.2
Lt. Vincent Giammona, Lad.5
James Giberson, Lad.35
Ronnie Gies, Sqd.288
Paul Gill, Eng.54
Lt. John Ginley, Eng.40
Jeffrey Giordano, Lad.3
John Giordano, Hmc.1
Keith Glascoe, Lad.21
James Gray, Lad.20 B.C.
Joseph Grzelak, Bat.48
Jose Guadalupe, Eng.54
Lt. Geoffrey Guja, Bat.43
Lt. Joseph Gullickson, Lad.101
David Halderman, Sqd.18
Lt. Vincent Halloran, Lad.8
Robert Hamilton, Sqd.41
Sean Hanley, Lad.20 (D)
Thomas Hannafin, Lad.5
Dana Hannon, Eng.26
Daniel Harlin, Lad.2
Lt. Harvey Harrell, Res.5
Lt. Stephen Harrell, Bat.7
Capt. Thomas Haskell, Jr., Div.15
Timothy Haskell, Sqd.18 (D)
Capt. Terence Hatton, Res.1
Michael Haub, Lad.4
Lt. Michael Healey, Sqd.41
John Hefferman, Lad.11
Ronnie Henderson, Eng.279
Joseph Henry, Lad.21
William Henry, Res.1 (D)
Thomas Hetzel, Lad.13
Capt. Brian Hickey, Res.4 Lt.
Timothy Higgins, S.O.C.
Jonathan Hohmann, Hmc.1
Thomas Holohan, Eng.6
Joseph Hunter, Sqd.288
Capt. Walter Hynes, Lad.13 (D)
Jonathan Ielpi, Sqd.288
Capt. Frederick Ill Jr., Lad.2
William Johnston, Eng.6
Andrew Jordan, Lad.132
Karl Joseph, Eng.207
Lt. Anthony Jovic, Bat.47
Angel Juarbe Jr., Lad.12
Mychal Judge, Chaplain (D)
Vincent Kane, Eng.22 B.C.
Charles Kasper, S.O.C.
Paul Keating, Lad.5
Richard Kelly Jr., Lad.11
Thomas R. Kelly, Lad.15
Thomas W. Kelly, Lad.105
Thomas Kennedy, Lad.101
Lt. Ronald Kerwin, Sqd.288
Michael Kiefer, Lad.132
Robert King Jr., Eng.33
Scott Kopytko, Lad.15
William Krukowski, Lad.21
Kenneth Kumpel, Lad.25
Thomas Kuveikis, Sqd.252
David LaForge, Lad.20
William Lake, Res.2
Robert Lane, Eng.55
Peter Langone, Sqd.252
Scott Larsen, Lad.15 Lt.
Joseph Leavey, Lad.15
Neil Leavy, Eng.217
Daniel Libretti, Res.2
Carlos Lillo, Paramedic
Robert Linnane, Lad.20
Michael Lynch, Eng.40
Michael Lynch, Lad.4
Michael Lyons, Sqd.41
Patrick Lyons, Sqd.252
Joseph Maffeo, Lad.101
William Mahoney, Res 4
Joseph Maloney, Lad.3 (D)
B.C. Joseph Marchbanks Jr, Bat.12
Lt. Charles Margiotta, Bat.22
Kenneth Marino, Res.1
John Marshall, Eng.23 Lt.
Peter Martin, Res.2
Lt. Paul Martini, Eng.23
Joseph Mascali, T.S.U. 2
Keithroy Maynard, Eng.33
Brian McAleese, Eng.226
John McAvoy, Lad.3 T
homas McCann, Bat.8
Lt. William McGinn, Sqd.18
B.C. William McGovern, Bat.2 (D)
Dennis McHugh, Lad.13
Robert McMahon, Lad.20
Robert McPadden, Eng.23
Terence McShane, Lad.101
Timothy McSweeney, Lad.3
Martin McWilliams, Eng.22 (D)
Raymond Meisenheimer, Res.3
Charles Mendez, Lad.7
Steve Mercado, Eng.40
Douglas Miller, Res.5
Henry Miller Jr, Lad.105
Robert Minara, Lad.25
Thomas Mingione, Lad.132
Lt. Paul Mitchell, Bat.1
Capt. Louis Modafferi, Res.5
Lt. Dennis Mojica, Res.1 (D)
Manuel Mojica, Sqd.18 (D)
Carl Molinaro, Lad.2
Michael Montesi, Res.1
Capt. Thomas Moody, Div.1
B.C. John Moran, Bat.49
Vincent Morello, Lad.35
Christopher Mozzillo, Eng.55
Richard Muldowney Jr, Lad.07
Michael Mullan, Lad.12
Dennis Mulligan, Lad.2
Lt. Raymond Murphy, Lad.16
Lt. Robert Nagel, Eng.58
John Napolitano, Res.2
Peter Nelson, Res.4
Gerard Nevins, Res.1
Dennis O'Berg, Lad.105
Lt. Daniel O'Callaghan, Lad.4
Douglas Oelschlager, Lad.15
Joseph Ogren, Lad.3
Lt. Thomas O'Hagan, Bat.4
Samuel Oitice, Lad.4
Patrick O'Keefe, Res.1
Capt. William O'Keefe, Div.15 (D)
Eric Olsen, Lad.15
Jeffery Olsen, Eng.10
Steven Olson, Lad.3
Kevin O'Rourke, Res.2
Michael Otten, Lad.35
Jeffery Palazzo, Res.5
B.C. Orio Palmer, Bat.7
Frank Palombo, Lad.105
Paul Pansini, Eng.10
B.C. John Paolillo, Bat.11
James Pappageorge, Eng.23
Robert Parro, Eng.8
Durrell Pearsall, Res.4
Lt. Glenn Perry, Bat.12
Lt. Philip Petti, Bat.7
Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, Eng. 33
Lt. Kenneth Phelan, Bat.32
Christopher Pickford, Eng.201
Shawn Powell, Eng.207
Vincent Princiotta, Lad.7
Kevin Prior, Sqd.252
B.C. Richard Prunty, Bat.2 (D)
Lincoln Quappe, Res.2
Lt. Michael Quilty, Lad.11
Ricardo Quinn, Paramedic
Leonard Ragaglia, Eng.54
Michael Ragusa, Eng.279
Edward Rall, Res.2
Adam Rand, Sqd.288
Donald Regan, Res.3
Lt. Robert Regan, Lad.118
Christian Regenhard, Lad.131
Kevin Reilly, Eng.207
Lt. Vernon Richard, Lad.7
James Riches, Eng.4
Joseph Rivelli, Lad.25
Michael Roberts, Eng.214
Michael E. Roberts, Lad.35
Anthony Rodriguez, Eng.279
Matthew Rogan, Lad.11
Nicholas Rossomando, Res.5
Paul Ruback, Lad.25
Stephen Russell, Eng.55
Lt. Michael Russo, S.O.C.
B.C. Matthew Ryan, Bat.1
Thomas Sabella, Lad.13
Christopher Santora, Eng.54
John Santore, Lad.5 (D)
Gregory Saucedo, Lad.5
Dennis Scauso, H.M. 1
John Schardt, Eng.201
B.C. Fred Scheffold, Bat.12
Thomas Schoales, Eng.4
Gerard Schrang, Res.3 (D)
Gregory Sikorsky, Sqd.41
Stephen Siller, Sqd.1
Stanley Smagala Jr, Eng.226
Kevin Smith, H.M. 1
Leon Smith Jr, Lad 118
Robert Spear Jr, Eng.26
oseph Spor, Res.3
B.C. Lawrence Stack, Bat.50
Capt. Timothy Stackpole, Div.11 (D)
Gregory Stajk, Lad.13
Jeffery Stark, Eng.230
Benjamin Suarez, Lad.21
Daniel Suhr, Eng.216 (D)
Lt. Christopher Sullivan, Lad.111
Brian Sweeney, Res.1
Sean Tallon, Lad.10
Allan Tarasiewicz, Res.5
Paul Tegtmeier, Eng.4
John Tierney, Lad.9
John Tipping II, Lad.4
Hector Tirado Jr, Eng.23
Richard Vanhine, Sqd.41
Peter Vega, Lad.118
Lawrence Veling, Eng.235
John Vigiano II, Lad.132
Sergio Villanueva, Lad.132
Lawrence Virgilio, Sqd.18 (D)
Lt. Robert Wallace, Eng.205
Jeffery Walz, Lad. 9
Lt. Michael Warchola, Lad.5 (D)
Capt. Patrick Waters, S.O.C.
Kenneth Watson, Eng.214
Michael Weinberg, Eng.1 (D)
David Weiss, Res.1
Timothy Welty, Sqd.288
Eugene Whelan, Eng.230
Edward White, Eng.230
Mark Whitford, Eng.23
Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, Eng.238 (D)
B.C. John Williamson, Bat.6 (D)
Capt. David Wooley, Lad.4
Raymond York, Eng.285 (D)
Next time you put on your uniform and jump into the truck, don’t just remember those that came before you but do your best to bring your A-game, and be worthy of the sacrifices they made for you.
