By:Nicole Falco
Over 1,000 gather at NYC firefighter's memorial in VS
When the Rev. Stephen Brigandi of Holy Name of Mary Church first spoke with Vincent Giammona's wife, Theresa, she said she wanted her husband to be remembered as a hero.
Lt. Giammona, a Valley Stream resident and a firefighter with Ladder 5 on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, responded to the cry for help at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 and risked his life just as he had done so many times before. He has not been recovered from the rubble of the tragedy.
A memorial service held Thursday at Holy Name of Mary Church was attended by more than a thousand mourners, including his family and friends as well as hundreds and hundreds of his uniformed brothers, many of whom had never met him, and Valley Stream residents, there simply to pay their respects to their neighbor, a fallen hero.
With the enormous crowd spilling out onto the street, Giammona was remembered for his zest for life, heart of gold and passion for his wife, four young daughters and the job. Giammona was more than just a hero on the job, he was also a hero to those who knew him best.
He knew there was only one thing he was meant to be. For Vinny it was a call to become a New York City fireman,his sister, Linda Jullian, said.
Giammona grew up in Bayside and followed in the footsteps of his father Vincent Sr., who had been an FDNY captain.
The eyes of the mourners at Giammona's memorial were filled with tears, but often the church was also filled with laughter and smiles as his siblings recalled in their eulogies the fond and funny memories of the 40 years they had with their brother.
Giammona's brother, Stephen, remembered him as the king of road trips. Stephen also recalled how his brother made sure the 10 percent fireman's discount was enforced in all situations,and how he never paid full price for anything. They were the perks of his job. The children [Giammona's four daughters] are all under two, they just look big for their age,Stephen recalled his brother's words. Giammona and Theresa's four daughters are Francesca, 8, Toni-Ann, 6, Nicolette, 4, and Daniella, 2.
Stephen said that Vinny left a lasting impression in every role of his life. He has a wife and four kids who will grow up knowing he loved them every step of the way. Giammona's roles included, the Vin-man,Coach,Lt. Fun,and the self-dubbed, Ace Lt. Vinny G.
Giammona was also big brother
