‘Twenty-five years later, we say thank you’

CAIRO―Twenty-five years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the memories remain vivid for the thousands of first responders who left their own communities behind to help a shattered city hundreds of miles away.

They carried out search, rescue and recovery operations, assisted with fire suppression and backfilled FDNY firehouses.

Recently, it came to the attention of the Cairo Town Board that local residents, firefighters and EMS were among those who responded to New York City―and had never been recognized.

They included Bill Mirando, Rick Stanfield, Brian Lewis, PJ Pugsley, Ed Brandt, Ken Goetz and Lenny Asaro, all of whom were honored at Monday night’s town board meeting for their selfless service and dedication.

Each was presented with a plaque by Town Supervisor Debra Bogins, who said their “willingness to help others during one of our nation’s darkest moments is something we will always remember and honor.”

“Twenty-five years later, we say thank you,” said Bogins.

“We appreciate you for everything you have done and everything that you are still doing,” she said.

At the time of the attacks, Goetz was working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Asaro for the New York City Office of Emergency Management. Brandt is a longtime paramedic.

“Billy, Rick, Brian and I went down with the ambulance,” said Pugsley, adding that they spent about 24 hours in the city, stationed at Broadway and Vesey Street.

At the intersection is St. Paul's Chapel, which served as a rescue and recovery hub after the attacks.

Volunteers poured into Lower Manhattan from across the country and beyond to help in the aftermath of the attacks. Some joined relief efforts organized by groups such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, while others arrived on their own or as members of their local fire department or ambulance squad.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) estimates that nearly 400 volunteer fire departments were involved in the response to and recovery from the terrorist attacks in New York City, NY, Arlington, VA, and Somerset County, PA. In total, more than 3,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians, including those from several agencies in Greene County, provided more than 75,000 hours of service, NVFC report found.