On September 11, 2001, tragedy struck our country, the world and our hearts. Of the 2,977 people killed in the attacks on our homeland, 343 brothers and sisters of the New York City Fire Department, 37 police officers of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, 23 police officers of the New York City Police Department, 8 emergency medical technicians and paramedics from New York City hospital EMS units and three New York State Court Officers perished.

Today, among others, we pause to remember these brave professionals who, without pause, raced into the destruction, giving their lives in the ultimate sacrifice.