A prominent blank wall in the New York City Police Department's Hall of Heroes at One Police Plaza stands as a stark symbol of the ongoing casualties from September 11th-related illnesses. The wall, approximately 25 feet long and 40 feet high, is the only section without names, and its emptiness underscores the grim reality that more officers are expected to die from these conditions.
This week, the NYPD added the names of 469 officers who succumbed to illnesses stemming from their exposure to toxic air at Ground Zero to the memorial. This brings the total number of officers honored on the Wall of Honor, which commemorates officers who died in the line of duty since 1849, to nearly 1,000. The new additions were placed alongside a depiction of the Twin Towers.
A high-ranking police source involved in recovery efforts at Ground Zero told The Post that the number of deaths from 9/11-related illnesses continues to rise. "The number of people passing from 9/11 hasn’t stopped and it seems like it’s increasing,” the source stated, emphasizing the need for more space for future honorees.
Since the September 11th attacks 25 years ago, an estimated 5,892 first responders and individuals who lived or worked near Ground Zero have died from cancers attributed to the toxic environment. This figure more than doubles the 2,753 people who died in the terror attacks themselves.
In April, the NYPD added the names of 60 members who died from COVID-19 during the 2020 pandemic to another wall within the Hall of Heroes. Despite the presence of the large blank wall, an NYPD spokesman indicated there are currently no plans to designate it for 9/11-related deaths, noting that extra spaces are available on the newly dedicated memorial wall.
A large blank wall stands in NYPD headquarters in Lower Manhattan. Provided to the New York Post