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“Never forget.”
Those words echoed through Fireman’s Hall Museum today, as the Philadelphia Fire Department and Mayor Cherelle Parker gathered for a special ceremony. The mayor unveiled a plaque commemorating the names of the Philadelphia first responders who traveled to Ground Zero 25 years ago on this day.
“When America needed help, Philadelphia answered,” retired fire commissioner Craig Murphy told the room. “We did not go for recognition. We went because that is what firefighters do. When someone calls for help, you go.”
The room was filled with first responders and firefighters — many of whom served on Pennsylvania’s Task Force One, a specialized search-and-rescue team that was deployed to Ground Zero.
“They went because service does not stop at a city line,” Parker said. “Those kind of geographic boundaries don’t apply in the midst of a crisis.”
“It’s important we tell the story”
The commemorative plaque will soon find a home in City Hall. Various city officials who witnessed the aftermath of the towers falling described what they remembered on that day.
“When you look at what you see on TV and you go there in person, it’s like comparing a black‑and‑white photograph to a color photograph,” said former police sergeant Greg Masi. “People were coming up to our vehicles with photos, loved ones, co-workers.”
He noted, it was as if they were desperate to find those missing, however often the goal was to just find a body.
“They found somebody, but that person wasn’t alive,” Masi said. “Or they may have found some part of somebody.”
Fire battalion chief John O’Neill recalled the “brilliant sunlight” that morning. “It looked like it had just snowed,” he said. “The white of the pulverized concrete from the building covered every spot you looked.
“The firefighters, the police officers and all the other responders were covered, because they wouldn’t leave that area,” O’Neill continued.
The officers also spoke about the aftermath of that day, and the 25 years that have gone by.
“We also remember the responders and recovery workers who came home from Ground Zero and carried Ground Zero with them,” Murphy said. “Many later became ill because of their service. Some have died. Others continue to fight today. Their sacrifice and the suffering of their families is part of September 11th as well.”
“They actually announced this week that since 9/11, over 9,000 people have passed away from 9/11 illnesses,” Masi said. “It’s important we tell the story because a third of our population was not even born. They have no idea.”
Still, for all of the suffering and enduring grief, the former sergeant said he was able to find silver linings the very next day.
“Through every tragedy you hope some good comes about,” Masi said. “I’ve never seen a wave of patriotism in our country between everybody. It didn’t matter what race you were, what gender, what your political beliefs were, what your religious beliefs were — everybody came together in this country. It was unanimous.”
When people ask him, “Do you think you’ll ever see a 9/11 again?” He responded, “I go, ‘I hope not, but I’d rather see a 9/12 any day of the week.’”
