Giuliani: 'Too many funerals'

NEW YORK, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has asked New York City residents to attend some of the firefighters' funerals and memorials -- 16 are scheduled for Saturday.

"Up until Sept. 11, I had attended every funeral of a firefighter or police officer who died in the line of duty," Giuliani said. "There are too many funerals."

Actually, almost every elected official in any city in New York attended every firefighter or police officer funeral. In New York, Gov. George Pataki attended as well. Thousands of firefighters or police officers from the East Coast and Canada would also attend. Amtrak used to put on extra cars when funerals were scheduled.

The houses of worship could not accommodate all those who attended, and a continuous line of men and women in dress uniforms stood as silent sentries, to honor the fallen brother or sister they never knew.

"It's part of the brotherhood of being a firefighter, being there when one has fallen in the line of duty, we're a family," Robert Fickies, a volunteer firefighter for 30 years in Averill Park, N.Y., and Web master for the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial at Albany, N.Y., told United Press International.

"Firefighters expect danger," another firefighter said. "They also know not everyone of them will survive a full career, so we honor our brothers and sisters.

"It's the tradition to honor those who have given the ultimate price."

The tradition also included a bagpiper, carrying the flag-draped coffin on top of a firetruck, an honor guard and blocked traffic to allow the long processional to proceed uninterrupted to the cemetery. Firefighter funerals are memorable events not only for those in uniform but for the community as well.

However, many fear that the 343 firefighters, who died in the World Trade Center or are listed as missing, are being shortchanged.

Many firefighters in New York City are still working 12-hour shifts at "Ground Zero" at the World Trade Center. Firefighters from Long Island and Westchester counties have been temporarily transferred to the city to fill in for the firefighters lost, and resources have been stretched throughout the firefighter community.

On top of the loss the New York City firefighters have already endured, there is the added guilt that they have not been able to "be there" for those that have fallen and for their families.

City officials have asked that retired firefighters and police officers attend the funerals in their uniforms to represent those who cannot attend. Out-of-town firefighters and police officers have been asked not to attend the New York City funerals.

"Word has gotten out that there has been no call from New York City to attend the funerals, and they are asking firefighters from outside New York City not to come, at the moment," Fickies said. "There will be an official memorial for the firefighters and tens of thousands will attend from everywhere."

"Part of the reason is that the funerals are spread out all over Long Island and the suburbs and the transit system is already taxed, plus many firefighters throughout the Northeast and Canada have volunteered in New York City, plus the whole heightened state of alert has stretched us a bit," Fickies added.

Not all of the firefighters and emergency personnel lost in the World Trade Center were from New York City. A rescue squad in Virginia reported that one of its members was apparently lost in the World Trade Center disaster. Jeff Simpson, a volunteer emergency medical technician, was in lower Manhattan on routine business on behalf of his employer, the Oracle Corp., when the two jet airliners crashed into the twin towers. Bystanders reported that he rushed to the scene to offer assistance when the collapse occurred. He is survived by his wife, Diane, and their 6-year-old triplets: Leann, Maxwell and Elaine.

New York City Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen assured people that the families of the fallen firefighters and rescue workers would get pensions, federal benefits and donations. But other firefighters worry that they cannot be there for the families.

"Before, when a firefighter died in the line of duty, we would help the widow, spend time with the children, we would step in and help as any family would, but we can't do that now," said New York City Chief Richie Picciotto, who survived being buried in rubble at the World Trade Center. "We have to depend on relatives, friends and neighbors to help the families."

The International Association of Fire Chiefs of Fairfax, Va., requested that all of America's fire and emergency service agencies continue to fly flags at half-staff and to shroud their badges until Oct. 11 to mark a formal 30-day period of mourning for the fire and rescue workers lost in the terrorist attacks.

Due to the nature of the situation at Ground Zero, the IAFC acknowledged that it might never be possible to fully account for all the personnel who responded to the World Trade Center.

No date has yet been set for a formal memorial service for the fallen firefighters and rescue workers involved in the tragic incidents. Therefore, the recognition of a set 30-day period should provide a formal time frame for observance."

"Although President Bush's 'national period of mourning' may have ended, it is certainly not over for those of us in the fire service," said Chief John Buckman, president of the IAFC. "It's important that the fire and emergency service join together as a whole to continue to show our support and respect for our fallen comrades, and it will be important to mark this sad period in our history with some closure for all of us as well."

(Reported by Alex Cukan in Albany, N.Y.)