The San Francisco Fire Department personnel paid tribute to their fallen comrades in New York City today, recalling the terror attacks of September 11, 2001 – an annual tradition that looked a lot different this year.
Wildfires burning throughout California once again pushed Bay Area air quality into the “purple” or “very unhealthy” category Friday, forcing the fire department to move the tribute ceremony indoors this year, which took place at Station 7 on Folsom Street.
The names of the 343 New York fire personnel were read aloud at the ceremony. San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson Jonathan Baxter said, each and every one of them will never be forgotten.
Nicholson encouraged firefighters to continue to “do good” and get better at what they do.
“Just keep putting in the 110% effort that you do,” she said. “Keep learning something every single day. Help somebody else who needs to learn something.”
San Francisco firefighters wore masks and kept proper social distance while they recalled their fallen colleagues, acknowledging not just a tragedy that changed the nation nearly two decades ago, but being aware of the current pandemic that leaves a mark on the world today.