By:KEITH GRANT
Depicting the two towers and honoring the fallen men and women of the New York Police Department, the Fire Department of New York and the Port Authority Police Department, the monument was dedicated at Firemen's Memorial Plaza on the 400 block of West Park Avenue. The statue stands back-to-back with a monument honoring the fallen members of the Long Beach Fire Department.
With West School music teacher Vanessa Burns singing God Bless America, FDNY Capt. Al Fuentes officially unveiled the new memorial as dozens of residents and Long Beach, New York and other neighboring police and fire officials looked on and applauded.
Fuentes, a Long Beach residents who was critically injured in the collapse of the towers, was clearly moved by the honor.
I want to thank Long Beach for honoring my brothers. It's been a tough nine months.
Fuentes said the flag outside his home had remained at half-mast ever since Sept. 11. Now, with a place nearby to visit and remember his comrades, he said, I think now I can raise it.
Below a depiction of the towers are engraved the logos of the NYPD, FDNY and PAPD, along with the words: In loving memory of all the rescue workers who made the ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. They will be in our thoughts and prayers always.
These rescuers, Father Bill Logan of St. Ignatius R.C. Church told the gathering, are not lost. They are redeemed. They passed from darkness into light.
Council vice president Scott Nigro said the statue stands as a monument to those who responded and paid the ultimate price.
When many candles held by those in attendance would not light in the strong wind, council president Joel Crystal assured residents, I'm sure the flames in your heart will burn just as brightly.
Vincent McManus, ex-captain of the LBFD, recounted the contributions of Long Beach firefighters during that fateful day. Long Beach's rescue Co. 1 was the first to be called into Manhattan, reporting first to the New York firehouse and then to Ground Zero. The Floodlight Co. was also placed in service the night of the 11th so that rescue workers and the mayor, himself, could continue to assess and evaluate the situation. And an LBFD ambulance was also sent to the remains of Tower 2.
Though our towers no longer stand tall, our people do, McManus said.
The monument was created by LBFD volunteer Harvey Consor, who 35 years earlier created the firemen's monument that stands right behind it.
The city plans to create another memorial along the bay to honor all of those who perished, and West End residents are planning a memorial garden along Beech Street.
