FDNY says 'Never Forget' theme at heart of events marking 25 years since Sept. 11, 2001

To mark a quarter century since Sept. 11, 2001, the FDNY will honor its members killed on the day of the attacks as well as the hundreds of others who have died of illnesses contracted at Ground Zero.

At a news conference Tuesday on Staten Island — with a clear view across the Hudson River of where the Twin Towers stood a generation ago — FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker and other department and city officials said it's part of a commitment to "never forget" the lives taken — including more than 700 department personnel — and families forever changed.

It was hard for him to grasp that nearly "25 years have passed since this department's darkest days," Tucker told the others gathered at Staten Island University Hospital Community Park.

"As we plan these events, we have tried to be thoughtful and respectful and carry the honor and tradition of the FDNY into everything we do," the commissioner added, "because we want to show the world and the FDNY families that when we do this, and when we say things like 'We will never forget,' we truly mean it."

To that end, the FDNY will host a commemoration ceremony on Sept. 9 at the Staten Island ballpark, home to the FerryHawks, and remembrances on Sept. 11 at the New York City Fire Museum and other locations in the boroughs. In September, officials noted Tuesday, the department will publish a 25-anniversary health report on 9/11-related illnesses and a commemorative emblem.

The FDNY saw 343 of its members die on 9/11. More than 400 department firefighters and other personnel have succumbed to related illnesses in the years since.

Other tributes next year will include the September release of a podcast series hosted by actor Gary Sinise that features recollections from FDNY members, officials said.

The department also will release a short film about Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain with the department who died on 9/11.

A committee expected to handle fine details of the observances will include Tucker, several other fire officials and some members of the FDNY Foundation, a nonprofit for the department.

Fire officials said more details about the commemorative efforts will be released closer to the anniversary.

By Tiffany Cusaac-Smith

tiffany.cusaac-smith@newsday.com@T_Cusaac

Tiffany Cusaac-Smith is a general assignment reporter for Newsday. She previously worked at USA TODAY and is an alum of Howard University.