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This article originally appeared on the Rant's Home Page
Those of us who volunteer in the Nassau Fire Service can be thankful that line of duty deaths (LODDs) are rare occurrences among our ranks. Anyone who has experienced the loss of a brother firefighter knows all too well the heartbreak and pain that comes with it – and also the reassuring sense of brotherhood that follows when we step up to honor our fallen brother. Honoring those we have lost can take many forms, from large efforts to provide financial assistance and emotional comfort to the families they left behind, to relatively small yet rewarding gestures like engraving their names on a granite wall built to honor the memory of all who lost their lives in the line of duty.
In 2006, Nassau brother Paul Brady was tragically killed while performing his duties as a Malverne firefighter. While he may not have been killed rushing into a burning building, or responding to an alarm, he was killed while performing a task vital to his department’s ability to respond to alarms; a checkout of his rig. Truck and equipment checkouts and maintenance are a link in the lifesaving chain we provide to our communities. That link is no less important than any other; ensuring that the rig and its equipment are working properly enables us to achieve our tasks on the fireground efficiently and effectively. When we’re not able to achieve our tasks on the fireground efficiently and effectively, tragedies occur. It’s that simple. Firefighter Brady was protecting his community, as he was sworn to do, when he perished.
It’s rare that you’ll get government agencies and other bureaucracies to agree on anything. But in the case of brother Brady, the list of agencies that agree that his was a line of duty death reads like a can of alphabet soup: NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health); NFPA (National Fire Protection Association); PSOB (Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program); USFA (United States Fire Administration); the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board; and the NFFF (National Fallen Firefighters Foundation).
Shamefully missing from that list is the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial. This past week, its committee voted to deny firefighter Brady’s inclusion on the memorial wall (and also denied Suffolk firefighter Wilbur Ritter, who died in 2006 under circumstances defined as an LODD by other agencies).
It is this writer’s understanding that even though the memorial is now 10 years old, there is still no clear and agreed upon criteria used by the NYS Fallen Firefighters Memorial committee in determining whether or not a death is an LODD. The absence of such a clearly defined criteria puts the onus on a “vote” by the committee, which at its core is simply unacceptable. What we’re left with is a subjective vote held to determine whether one firefighter’s death is less honorable than another firefighter’s death.
The inexplicable and inexcusable exclusion of Paul Brady from the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial boggles the mind. He was performing a vital duty to serve and protect his neighbors and community. He made the decision to serve as an unpaid volunteer; in doing so, he was assigned a duty to ensure that his rig and equipment were checked regularly. On that horrible day, for his department and community, he sacrificed time with his family to perform his duty, and through an unfortunate accident made the ultimate sacrifice.
Yet devoting a few square inches of space on a granite wall constructed in the hope that (in their words) “those who have made the supreme sacrifice will never be forgotten” is too much to ask of a committee established to honor fallen firefighters. The situation defies logic and decency; it is absurd.
Politicians who have been supportive and involved in the memorial need to be made aware of this slap in the face to brothers Brady and Ritter -- and to the 20,000-plus volunteer firefighters on Long Island. Two who have been particularly involved are Senator Joseph Bruno, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. This writer humbly suggests that they be made aware of the situation by forwarding this article to them via email.
You can do this simply by copying the entire article, and pasting it into the “message” box on their contact pages, which you’ll find at:
Very well written Boss. Both informative and touching. I hope everyone who reads this will feel the same and fulfills their duty and email this to the people who are in the position they are in due to the voting public.
I didnt post much on this issue (the last thread) because its an issue that is near & dear to my heart, and it quite frankly makes myself, as well as many others, sick to our stomachs.
RB: Great post, everyone take a minute or two out of your day to email the addresses listed above. Contact your brother firefighters, relatives, or anyone you email and ask them to do the same. Only takes a second, but as a brotherhood, we CAN show that Long Island DOES count!
They'll be more to follow on this issue as the months pass by, cause this is FAR from over.
In the interim, another reminder, the NYS Fallen FF Memorial is FUNDED by the State of New York. BUT, they also solicit DONATIONS from EVERY FD in NYS. So, when your dept gets the letter from them this year or next year, instead of "blindly" writing a $100 Donation check, simply either disguard it, or write "Paul R Brady Malverne FD, Wilbur Ritter, Sayville FD" on their letter and mail it back to them. If 71 depts in Nassau & 100+ in Suffolk thats $17,000 less they get in donations.
More to follow as we go down this road, but as it stands now, neither will be on the wall this year. October 9th is the service, and any turnout from any LI FF's/Depts is appreciated- not to protest, not to argue, to honor our brothers on the wall or not, and to show that Long Island Firefighters cannot be treated as second class citizens.
And to the brothers of UFA Local 94 and UFOA Local 854, always keep in the back of your mind how other IAFF Members within our state have disrepected the LI Fire Service, where many live, where many "take care of business". How quickly we forget who we work with and what they do when they get home.
Just to let you know State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg spoke at the Fire Commission meeting last night in Inwood. He has vowed to look into the matter and take action. He received e-mails on it and said the issue is being brought to the Govenor.He will be at the ceromony like he is every year supporting us the fire service.
More than anything in the world, I do not want Paul on the wall for one simple reason: you have to be deceased. (That’s the one rule that everyone agrees on.)
Today’s our anniversary, and I want him back, here with me, not on a wall.
Please know how grateful I am to all you guys. Thank you for fighting for Paul. He doesn’t have words to fight for himself now, and I'm humbled by the outpouring of love so many have shown in standing up for their brother, my husband, my love.
More than anything in the world, I do not want Paul on the wall for one simple reason: you have to be deceased. (That’s the one rule that everyone agrees on.)
Today’s our anniversary, and I want him back, here with me, not on a wall.
Please know how grateful I am to all you guys. Thank you for fighting for Paul. He doesn’t have words to fight for himself now, and I'm humbled by the outpouring of love so many have shown in standing up for their brother, my husband, my love.
What I think should happen is...put a stop to all posts regarding the matter of "The Wall." I'm sure all comments, & support are appreciated by those depts & families. But let the fallen firefighters rest in peace, & let the respective departments/families handle the rest. Whether its traveling to Albany to show support for this years fallen firefighters, or to speak one on one with whomever in order to accomplish what the family & fd members want to accomplish. No more bashing each other b/c of opinions posted. We all know that the true/real story never gets passed on. And if it does, it gets embelished as every day goes by. These fallen firefighters are & will always be remembered in ALL our hearts. Let them R.I.P. & let the person(s) who know all the correct info to do what they have/want to do. Thank you.
I respectfully disagree with keeping quiet on the issue. That being said, you are right about maintaining dignity and I will not allow this particular thread to turn into the bare-knuckles argument the other thread turned into.
If we don't stand up for our own, no one else will ("we" being volunteer firefighters in general, and Nassau firefighters specifically). The "powers that be" that you refer to will never do anything (on any matter) unless there's enough rumbling from their constituents. All efforts made by this site (within our control) on behalf of firefighter Brady will be done with the utmost respect and professionalism. If and when firefighter Brady's Malverne brothers or family tell me to butt out, I won't hesitate to do so.
If you wish to discuss it further, please send me a PM.
I respectfully disagree with keeping quiet on the issue. That being said, you are right about maintaining dignity and I will not allow this particular thread to turn into the bare-knuckles argument the other thread turned into.
If we don't stand up for our own, no one else will ("we" being volunteer firefighters in general, and Nassau firefighters specifically). The "powers that be" that you refer to will never do anything (on any matter) unless there's enough rumbling from their constituents. All efforts made by this site (within our control) on behalf of firefighter Brady will be done with the utmost respect and professionalism. If and when firefighter Brady's Malverne brothers or family tell me to butt out, I won't hesitate to do so.
If you wish to discuss it further, please send me a PM.
I dont think that this issue is one that should be kept quiet. as the boss has stated, although firefighter Brady did not die rushing into a burning building, he did die serving his community and his brother firefighters. Checking the rig is obviously an intregal part of firefighter, and a death in doing so, should definetly be defined as a Line Of Duty Death. For the memorial community to have the nerve deny a deceased firefighter the respect and credit he deserves is just absurd.
OK it's been a few months since this was mentioned. It's almost August and before you know it the Memorial Service will be upon us.
Has there been any progress in adding these names ?
On the NY State Fire prevention and control web site the slection criteria has been posted (click on the monument picture) You will see 5 Carrier fire fighters and 4 Volunteer organazations are listed as the selection committee and one appointed by the State Fire Administrator-who you know where he will side for. Thats the progress that has been made . On June 3 alot of assembly people had alot to say to volunteer firefighters -lets see if the Governor delivers.
A Monumental Disgrace
