O'Hara's Restaurant and Pub, situated just a block from the World Trade Center site, has transformed into a profound tribute to the first responders of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Nearly every surface of the bar's walls and ceilings is adorned with more than 7,000 patches representing police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and military members from across the United States and around the world.
The tradition began on the first anniversary of the attacks when a construction worker stapled an FDNY patch from the first firehouse to respond to the tragedy onto the bar. This act sparked a growing collection, with first responders and their supporters adding patches as a way to honor those lost and those who served.
For many, including survivors and families of victims, O'Hara's serves as a personal sanctuary and a living museum. Tim Brown, an FDNY veteran and 9/11 survivor, visits the bar multiple times a week. "It feels like I'm home," Brown said, likening the establishment to a different kind of 9/11 museum where he can connect with the memory of lost friends.
Amanda Lynch, whose uncle died in the attacks and whose grandfather died of 9/11-related cancer, found solace at O'Hara's. After meeting Brown there, she was inspired to become a paramedic and has since added her own patches to the wall, continuing a tradition that connects generations.
Jake LaFerriere, founder of the nonprofit Firefighters for Healing, described the bar as an overwhelming experience, filled with a deep sense of brotherhood, love, and respect. He added patches from his Minneapolis Fire Department and Minneapolis Police Department to the collection.
The tribute extends beyond uniformed personnel. Welles Crowther, an equities trader who died saving others in the South Tower, is honored with a red bandana, his signature item, displayed at the bar. His mother, Alison Crowther, expressed deep emotion upon seeing the tribute, finding that it added another dimension to her understanding of the 9/11 events.
Co-owner Mike Keane plans to open O'Hara's early on September 11th to accommodate those who wish to gather, share memories, or simply have a drink in remembrance. He stated that if the bar runs out of space for new patches, "We are just going to put up new walls," ensuring the memorial continues to grow.
