Plaque Dedication at the Site of the Father’s Day Fire
Monsignor John Delendick blesses the plaque as Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano and Chief of Department Edward Kilduff.
FDNY members, family and friends gathered on Oct. 9 at the site of the tragic Father’s Day fire for a plaque dedication to remember the three brave men lost more than 11 years ago.
Firefighters John Downing (Ladder 163), Brian Fahey (Rescue 4) and Harry Ford (Rescue 4) died in an explosion and collapse while fighting a 5-alarm fire in Astoria, Queens, on June 17, 2001.
“It’s not only a testament to those men – this is a testament to a community – really an entire city that responded,” Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said. “This is a true community memorial.”
Hundreds of firefighters attended the ceremony to honor three heroes.
The plaque is set upon a brick tower at the corner of Astoria Boulevard and 14th Street. Robin Gordin and partners, who own the property, donated the space for the memorial and pledged that if the land was ever developed, the plaque would be an integral part of the new structure.
“On Father’s Day 2001, the job stopped when the news spread of this tragedy,” Chief of Department Edward Kilduff said. “This plaque will signify to future generations what happened here.”
Family members of all three men attended the ceremony along with hundreds of FDNY firefighters.