By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
Dozens of firefighters, dignitaries and celebrities such as actors Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins turned out for the Sunday afternoon ceremony, which brought tears and smiles to the Gies family. Sarandon and Robbins, who worked on the World Trade Center rescue effort, have attended several tributes to city firefighters in the area.
The sun was shining and bagpipers were playing "Amazing Grace" as the 1 p.m. ceremony began.
Mr. Gies, a former Merrick chief and lieutenant in the city fire department, was killed while on duty with Squad 288 of Maspeth, Queens.
John Fabian, the Merrick Fire Department chief who led the ceremony, said, "Ronnie would do anything for anyone at the drop of a hat."
Ed Turner and Linda Nelson, two of Mr. Gies' high-school friends, spoke of what a close companion he had been since ninth grade. The two had a plaque made with the name Gies and the number "00" written across a football jersey. Mr. Gies wore "00" as a member of the Bellmore-Kennedy High School championship football team, and he continued to use it throughout his life in other sports such as softball, Turner said.
New York State Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr. of Merrick described Mr. Gies as "someone who made a difference in his community."
And Nassau County Legis. David Denenberg of Merrick presented a citation to the Gies family, saying "his spirit will live on" through them.
Among the other elected officials in attendance were state Assemblyman David McDonough and Town of Hempstead Councilman Gary Hudes.
Mr. Gies' three sons, Thomas, Bobby and Ronnie
John, unveiled Engine 643's new emblem with Mr. Gies' named embedded in the Merrick Fire Department symbol below the World Trade Center.
Rev. Robert Romeo, the Merrick Fire Department chaplain and a priest at Cure of Ars Roman Catholic Church, offered the closing blessing. He asked that God protect the volunteer firefighters who ride in Engine 643 as they serve the Merrick community. And he said, "May all firefighters be blessed and protected and returned to their families."
Romeo closed with a note for the Gies family: "Know that Ronnie is in my prayers every day."
