NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – FDNY members are reportedly outraged after the fire commissioner directed members to forego events marking the 19th anniversary of 9/11 because of the coronavirus.
“From a health and safety perspective, the FDNY strongly recommends that our members forego participating in 9/11 gatherings and events this year,” Commissioner Daniel Nigro said in an internal order, according to the New York Post.
“During these difficult times, the department acknowledges our members’ commitment to never forget those we lost on that fateful day,” Nigro said in the directive. “At the same time, we must balance that with our obligation to keep our current and former members, and their families, healthy and safe from the ever-looming threat of the COVID-19 virus.”
“FDNY has gone from ‘never forget’ to ‘forget about it,'” one member told the New York Post in response to the order.
Another member made a post on an FDNY message board, saying FDNY members are being told to avoid large gatherings even after the city allowed large street protests earlier this summer.
Retired FDNY Lt. Jim McCaffrey, whose brother-in-law was killed on 9/11, told the Post he was surprised by the directive.
“Of all days — not 9/11,” he said. “People need to get together and commemorate the sacrifice exhibited that day. If we don’t do it this year, it may not happen next year — and that would be shameful.”