By:Angela Marshall
Deputy chief, father of three, receives posthumous promotion
Ed Geraghty was a big man, a full 6-foot-3-inches tall. But when he held the blessed sacrament as a Eucharistic minister, his knees trembled and he was humbled.
More than a thousand mourners in St. Agnes Cathedral were also humbled Thursday, Oct. 25, as they thought of the supreme sacrifice Ed made to save others on Sept. 11.
Deputy Chief Geraghty and his men from Battalion 9 were among the first to respond to the World Trade Center that morning. Stationed near Times Square, they were skilled in high-rise rescues.
As others ran out, they ran in. The buildings may have collapsed, but not before more than an estimated 25,000 were evacuated by firefighters like Ed.
I think it's important, especially for the boys, that we focus on the fact that their dad was a real hero,said Thomas Von Essen, FDNY commissioner, who called the evacuation the greatest rescue in history. He was referring to Ed and Mary Geraghty's three sons, Connor, 14, James, 11, and Colin, 4.
For these three boys, the word hero has always been synonymous with dad. Each wrote a tribute to their father in the funeral program sharing their love and admiration for his sacrifice. I respect you so much,Connor wrote. One goal that I am setting for myself is to follow in your footsteps to be such a great man to my family, my community and the nation just like you.
The boys sat with their mother in the front pew during the mass, Colin often burying his head in his mother's shoulder to ease the pain.
Von Essen continued, telling the boys that their father had a great career ahead of him in the department. I know he'd have gone all the way to chief of the department if he wanted,he said.
And then Von Essen announced the posthumous promotion of Edward F. Geraghty from battalion chief to deputy chief. I've officially promoted him and I can't think of anyone who did more to earn it or deserved it more.
The promotion was retroactive to Sept. 10 so that he was a deputy chief when responding to the WTC disaster. Mary called the promotion a great honor and said her Eddie would have been so proud.
One of Ed's many positions before joining Battalion 9 had been serving as Von Essen's executive assistant. You know part of this tragedy is that Ed would be one of the people I'd be counting on most to help us put this department back together,said Von Essen.
Von Essen recalled that the last time he saw Ed he had a car full of kids with him.
That was typical of Ed.
Ed's family came before everything, even fire fighting. And that meant coaching soccer and baseball teams and taking the boys and their friends to the beach.
A wreath shaped like a soccer ball supplied by the RVC Soccer League joined those from the fire department and Mary at the front of the church. Many of Connor's classmates from Kellenberg Memorial High School attended the funeral. More than a dozen wore their soccer jerseys. Other children came dressed in Boy Scout uniforms.
Ed was the soccer commissioner and coach for the league's kindergarten boys' team. He also coached the under 12 B travel team. Steven Tighe, who was also killed Sept. 11, coached the under 12 A team.
Colin is a kindergartner at Hewitt and James attends South Side Middle School.
He just has been there for all the kids,said Rich Pollio, league president, before the funeral. He said Ed and Mary have played a tremendous part
