Twenty-five years after Sept. 11, 2001, a group of New York City firefighters continues to honor the memories of colleagues lost in the attacks through the preservation of historic firehouse riding lists. These lists, traditionally chalkboards updated daily, serve as a tangible link to the nine firefighters from Engine 22/Ladder 13/Battalion 10 on East 85th Street who never returned home.
Captain Douglas Mitchell, who has served for 27 years and began his career at the East 85th Street firehouse, recently returned to the station with fellow firefighters Stephen Saucedo and Juan Rivera. All three men were on the job on 9/11 and remain active, a rarity among the approximately 840 firefighters still serving who experienced the attacks firsthand.
"This is my home. This is where I started, this is where I learned the whole job," Mitchell said. Saucedo reflected on their continued service, stating, "I'm blessed I'm still here. There aren't a lot of us left, obviously."
The camaraderie and sense of belonging within the fire service have been a driving force for those who have continued their careers. While the passage of time has brought physical changes, "You just learn to adapt," Saucedo said, noting that for him, "Time, for me, doesn't heal all wounds."
The concern for preserving the physical riding lists arose immediately after the World Trade Center towers collapsed. The chalk-written names of the nine lost firefighters remained on the board, a constant reminder and a source of hope for their colleagues. Recognizing that chalk on a chalkboard was not a permanent solution, the firefighters sought a way to ensure these records would endure.
Conservators from the Metropolitan Museum of Art became involved, carefully repairing the boards and preserving the chalk-written names behind temperature-controlled glass. Harold Holzer, who worked at the museum during the restoration, noted the significance of the preservation effort, comparing it to protecting artifacts that signify enduring civilizations.
For the firefighters, the preserved lists are more than historical documents; they represent the lives and stories of their fallen colleagues. Each name signifies a person who "rushed in when everyone rushed out," embodying diverse backgrounds, from a veteran captain to a former police officer and a father of twins. The firefighters continue to grapple with their survival, a question they confront "All the time. Every day."
Saucedo carries a personal burden, as his brother, Gregory, also a firefighter, was lost in the North Tower. The preservation of these riding lists, he explained, is a vital responsibility to "pass down that tradition" and ensure that future generations remember the sacrifices made on Sept. 11. "Sept. 11 comes around once a year for everybody else," Saucedo said. "But for us, it's every day."
The nine firefighters honored on the preserved riding lists were Captain Walter Hynes, Firefighter Thomas Casoria, Firefighter Michael Elferis, Firefighter Thomas Hetzel, Firefighter Vincent Kane, Firefighter Martin McWilliams, Firefighter Thomas Sabella, Firefighter Gregory Stajk, and Firefighter Dennis McHugh.