CITY LOSES HUNDREDS OF BRAVEST, FINEST

New York Post | 9/12/01

[kattracks]

The flying bombs that destroyed the WTC yesterday left a gaping hole in New York's Police and Fire departments - with hundreds of the city's heroes perishing in the disaster.

Some 200 firefighters, including some top-ranking supervisors, were believed to have been killed when the crippled Twin Towers collapsed on them during frantic rescue efforts, officials said.

Among the dead was Chief of Department Peter Ganci, the highest-ranking uniformed member of the Bravest, and First Deputy Commissioner William Feehan, officials said.

Chief Ray Downey, the most decorated firefighter in the department, and FDNY chaplain Michael Judge, a Franciscan priest, were also confirmed dead.

"We have entire companies that are just missing. We lost chiefs," said Mike Carter, vice president of the firefighters union, who estimated that half the 400 firefighters who first reached the scene may have died.

Sources said dozens of police officers were missing and presumed dead, including some supervisors and up to 20 emergency-service cops.

"We took some heavy losses today," said Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik.

[Neets]

Very heavy losses, so tragic and so sad. My condolences to the familie of these brave men and women.

[meenie]

This has been a tragedy for the entire country but especially for the New York area. This is a lot of people lost and a lot of families affected. My sincere sympathy and prayers for the victims and their familes.

[csvset]

Prayers for all involved. After the towers collapsed, the eerie images of the fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, covered with dust, with no signs of life.

RIP.