Today I am beginning a year-long process of posting all 343 stories I have compiled about the firefighters in my paintings. They will be posted one per day, in order, by company. Division One, based in Lower Manhattan lost 100 men on September 11th.
Among the very first to respond were Ladder 1, Engine 7 and Ladder 8 of Battalion 1 because they were on a call for a gas leak nearby, and saw the first plane hit. Chief Joseph Pfeifer of Battalion 1 called in the first, second and third alarms. Ten House, because they were so close beat them to the site by seconds. Chief Pfeifer commanded staging in the North Tower. Somehow, every member of Ladder Co. 1 and Engine Co.7 survived that day. The paintings will begin tomorrow.
Thank you so much for doing this. These men will be remembered in a beautiful way because of you.
I’ve been reading these stories from the beginning and I just want to say thank you for all of our efforts. I feel connected to each of them after reading their stories. Both of my sons are firefighters and I am very proud of them for their sacrifices and courage. The 343 will never be forgotten…