On Friday morning, as the city marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, members of Brooklyn’s FDNY Rescue Company 2 gathered in their quarters on Bergen Street, remembering the seven from their ranks who never returned from Ground Zero. The occasion—a solemn Mass attended by families, retired firefighters, and current crew—was a moment to reflect on the extraordinary courage shown in the city’s darkest hours.
Among the names spoken with reverence were Lieutenant Peter Martin, Firefighter Daniel Libretti, Firefighter Kevin O’Rourke, Firefighter Edward Rail, and three more whose sacrifice remains etched in the company’s DNA. For the veterans in the room, the memories are tactile: the clang of gear, the roar of the engine that morning, and the desperate improvisation that followed.
A special tribute was paid to the late MTA bus driver who, when the company’s rig was blocked by gridlock on the Brooklyn Bridge, commandeered his bus to ferry the firefighters into Lower Manhattan. His quick thinking and selfless response made it possible for Rescue 2 to reach the towers—an act the company credits with giving them a fighting chance, even as seven of their own would pay the ultimate price.
For the current generation of Rescue 2, Friday’s gathering was also about legacy. Captain Mike Sullivan spoke of the way new recruits still train with the stories of 9/11 in mind—every drill a quiet conversation with those lost. “They were aces,” he said, echoing the words that have become a touchstone for the company. “We try to live up to that, every shift.”
Outside, neighbors left flowers at the firehouse’s bronze memorial, and schoolchildren on their way to class paused to read the names. In a city where loss and resilience are woven together, Rescue Company 2’s remembrance was a reminder: the echoes of that day still shape Brooklyn’s streets, and the people who serve them.
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