[Senator Pardek]

Thanks for the flag.

After the first tower collapsed, firefighters still raced up the stairs in the second tower past those who were escaping, to attempt to save the trapped, injured, and wheelchair-bound.

These fellows could have easily feigned illness due to smoke inhalation, and ran out with the others.

But they didn't. They all knew in the back of their heads that they would die, but duty beckoned them. Who among us would have done the same?

It's no coincidence they are referred to as New York's Bravest.

[StarFan]

A memorial Mass was offered today for Police Officer Stephen Driscoll of Emergency Service Squad 4 in my town of Carmel, NY. It was wonderful to see the fairly large church packed with NY Police and Fireman, leaving those who wished to pay their respects either standing in the back or outside. During the services there were four helicopters flying overhead and I don't know if it was security for Pataki and/or Guiliani or was a tradition followed. Does anyone know?

[steamroller]

What they did was the type of action that would make them Medal of Honor recipients in the military,namely going from a position of relative safety into mortal danger to rescue others with little likeliehood of their own survival.