FDNY HONORS 7 MEMBERS WHO HAVE DIED IN THE PAST YEAR AT 108TH MEMORIAL DAY

Mayor Bill de Blasio, FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro, Chief of Department James E. Leonard and Staff Chiefs pay tribute at the Fireman's Memorial.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, FDNY Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro and Chief of Department James E. Leonard honored 7 members who have died in the past year at the 108th Annual Memorial Service at the Firemen’s Monument on Riverside Drive.

“For 108 years, this memorial has stood as a solemn testament to bravery, to sacrifice, to those who did what most people could never imagine doing - those who looked at the dangers and somehow overcame them,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Today, we honor 7 men who were lost over the past year - 6 firefighters and one member of EMS. Our hearts are with their family, their friends with all their loved ones who are feeling so much sadness - and we honor at the same time all the other members of FDNY who gave their lives.”

FDNY members from throughout New York City gathered at the Fireman's Monument to honor the members who have died in the past year.

“There is no day on our calendar like Memorial Day, when we remember all of those who made the supreme sacrifice or have been lost due to illness and tragic accidents,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro. “We do it to pay tribute to the more than 1,100 members who gave the lives since the formation of our department 150 years ago, and the hundreds of active members who have died while in the active service of this City.”

Those honored at the ceremony were:

Lieutenant	Michael J. Vecsi
Firefighter	William D. Koesterer
Firefighter	Henri J. Gaudin
Firefighter	Raymond B. Murphy
Firefighter	Timothy P. Melia
Firefighter	Thomas R. O'Donnell
EMT	Brian J. Saks

“Every single member of this Department here in this beautiful show of support has taken an oath to accomplish that mission, no matter the cost,” said Leonard. “We all strive every day - both on duty and off - to fulfill that oath, and to live up to the long line of heroes that has preceded us.”