President Obama's Speech at FDNY Fire House Engine 54 & Ladder 4

On Thursday May 5th, President Barack Obama came to New York to pay tribute to the victims of the September 11th attacks, I don't need to tell any of you in the field how important this news was to us. It was a great honor to have the President in the quarters of Engine 54/Ladder 4/Battalion 9 -- a house that lost all of its members who were working on Sept. 11th -- just days after making the announcement that after ten years in hiding, Osama bin Laden had been killed by US Special Forces.

It was a great moment for this Department, and indeed the whole nation, when President Obama stood on the apparatus floor and said: "When we say we will never forget we mean what we say."

The President also thanked our members for the work we did on September 11th, and the days, weeks and months that followed. But he also thanked us for the work we do every day, away from the headlines, keeping safe the millions of people who live, work and play here.

I want to echo the President in that, and also I want to join him in thanking the brave troops who carried out this incredibly dangerous mission. And I want to thank the troops that have been fighting in our name for the last ten years.

I also want to thank the members of Engine 54/Ladder 4/Battalion 9 for preparing a great meal for the President of the United States. As far as I could see, he ate every bite. You did us proud!

Salvatore J Cassano
Fire Commissioner

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• FDNY
• President
• Obama
• Engine
• 54
• Ladder
• Battalion
• WTC
• fire
• department
• september
• 11
• 911
• special
• forces
• Cassano
• commissioner

[Lincolnpond1]

Never Forget Batt. 12 and the 343 men who gave their live September 11 2001. In the fire Dept. Nothing is given it is earned. God Bless America.

[VFA103JollyRogers]

343 NEVER FORGET

[542401]

I wonder how long it took them to get the rig in that position...

[azul8811]

@arohn2007 I appreciate the reply. It shows that you have class. Thank you, and take care.

[arohn2007]

@azul8811 Good point. I apologize, I meant no disrespect to the engine companies in New York that lost their fellow firefighters on 9/11.

[azul8811]

@arohn2007 Well, I guess I have a completely different take on it. Irrespective of one's political leanings, when the President of the United States comes to the firehouse...a firehouse that lost 15 guys on 9/11....and he is acknowledging their sacrifices...I don't see why it would be funny if those comments got interrupted by a "run". By the way, the guys showed their appreciation by making him a special dinner. That's just my take on things.

[arohn2007]

@azul8811 Your probably right. Still would've been funny though, he seems to get interupted alot. hehe

[azul8811]

@arohn2007 Obviously they were placed out of service, as is typically the case for these kinds of events. You can tell just by looking at the placement of the Eng. 54's rig in quarters. Correct?

[arohn2007]

I would've laughed if they got called out to a fire during his speech.