Tenth Anniversary Mural Memorializes Fallen Firefighters At World Trade Center

By Andrew Gorosko

In remembrance of the hundreds of firefighters who died at the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, Botsford Fire Rescue has had a mural painted on the north side of its firehouse signifying the tenth anniversary of the harrowing event.

The mural painted in acrylics by artist Rob Lee, formerly of Newtown, is based on a famous news photograph taken by Thomas E. Franklin showing three New York firefighters raising the American flag over the ruins of the World Trade Center. That photo first appeared in The Record, a newspaper in Bergen County, N.J., on September 12, 2001.

Botsford Fire Rescue Chief Wayne Ciaccia explained that Botsford volunteer firefighters travel annually to the World Trade Center site for memorial services held to commemorate the 9/11 incident. They plan to participate in the upcoming tenth anniversary memorial in September, he said.

Considering that the tenth anniversary is near, it was appropriate to memorialize the event with the mural on the firehouse wall, he said.

The thousands of motorcyclists who participate in the annual CT United Ride, which commemorates the 9/11 attack, will be able to see the mural as they ride southward on South Main Street, Chief Ciaccia said. The 11th Annual CT United Ride is scheduled for Sunday, September 11.

Chief Ciaccia estimates that Mr Lee spent about 35 hours painting the mural on the firehouse at 315 South Main Street (Route 25). The artist also recently did stylized paint detailing on the fire company's tanker truck.

Chief Ciaccia said the mural especially honors the memory of the firefighters who died at the 9/11 World Trade Center incident. 

There were 343 firefighters who died among the 2,753 fatalities in the World Trade Center attack.

Chief Ciaccia said he plans to have additional murals painted on the firehouse exterior.