Monroe County dedicates new 9/11 First Responders’ Memorial to honor heroes and remember those lost

Monroe County, New York – Monroe County officials, first responders, labor leaders and veterans gathered Thursday to dedicate a new memorial honoring the people who responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The 9/11 First Responders Memorial, located in Gary Beikirch Memorial Park at the corner of Highland Avenue and South Avenue, north of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, now provides Rochester and the surrounding community with a permanent place to remember those who died, those who survived and those whose lives were changed by the attacks.

The dedication brought together Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, New York State Assemblymember Harry Bronson, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, representatives of the Rochester-Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, local first responder agencies and the Veterans Outreach Center.

The memorial was created as a tribute to the victims and heroes of the attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93. It also recognizes the firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police officers who responded in the immediate aftermath and the many workers and first responders who continued their efforts during the cleanup and recovery that followed.

“25 years after the devastating terror attacks of September 11, 2001, we come together as a community to dedicate the 9/11 First Responders Memorial,” said County Executive Bello. “This memorial stands as a tribute to the brave men and women who ran straight into danger to help others, reminding us all of their sacrifice. We are proud to dedicate this site as a promise that Monroe County will never forget those who sacrificed their lives to protect our country and our freedom.”

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The memorial includes structures representing the Twin Towers, along with a folded American flag. Its design gives visitors a physical reminder of the events of September 11 while also creating a space for quiet reflection.

The project was supported by local labor organizations and was made possible in part through state funding secured by Bronson. The Rochester-Genesee Valley Area Labor Foundation advocated for the memorial, while Bronson obtained a $350,000 grant from New York State to help pay for its construction.

For those involved in the project, the memorial is about more than remembering the day itself. It also recognizes the difficult years that followed, particularly for first responders and workers who were exposed to dangerous conditions at the World Trade Center site.

“Twenty-five years ago today, the world watched in stunned horror as the Twin Towers crumbled before our very eyes, the Pentagon was attacked, and the final plane crashed in Pennsylvania. Our heroic first responders put their lives and health on the line in the immediate aftermath of the towers collapsing and, in the months, and years that followed to support clean-up and remediation efforts. As a result, many suffer from long-term health complications, with which they live with daily. I am proud to have secured funding for this memorial and for the partnership with labor and County Executive Adam Bello, so we will not forget, and future generations will have the opportunity to learn and understand 9-11. This memorial will help us remember the souls we lost and their families, giving tribute to the selfless acts of these first responders and workers who faced unfathomable danger and uncertainty. It is my hope this memorial will serve as a place of respite, reflection, and inspiration in their honor,” said Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson.

The role of labor organizations in the project was also highlighted during the dedication. Workers and unions were closely connected to the construction of the memorial, and their leaders spoke about the importance of honoring first responders and others who placed themselves in danger.

“This 9/11 – First Responder Memorial is going to be a place for our community to honor the sacrifice of those that perished while trying to save the lives of total strangers during the horrific terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. It will stand as a reminder that heroism and bravery live on within the ranks of all first responders, and our community is grateful for their selfless devotion to caring for others,” said Dan Maloney, President of the Rochester and Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO.

IBEW Local 86 was among the organizations that took part in the project. Business Manager Raymond Ryerse said the union viewed the memorial as an important way to honor those affected by the attacks, including military members and first responders.

“9/11 was one of the most tragic days in the history of our nation. The devastating loss of life, both civilian and first responders, was catastrophic and was extended by the loss of life by our military service members during the war on terror. Because of those incredible men and women who lost their lives, IBEW Local 86 is extremely honored and proud to take part in such an important project,” said IBEW Local 86 Business Manager Raymond Ryerse. “IBEW Local 86 has had a long-standing tradition of employing veterans as they transition back to civilian life, we have also had a long-standing working relationship and most profound respect for members of the IAFF-1099, Locust Club and furthermore all the first responders in the greater Rochester area as well as members of our military both active and veterans. It is truly and honor and privilege to pay respect to all the souls that were affected by the 9/11 tragedy, by helping construct this extremely important memorial. “

Teamsters Local 118 President Tim Barbeto also spoke about the personal impact of September 11 and the importance of keeping its memory alive as time passes.

“September 11th changed the way we looked at our country, our communities, and one another. Like so many people, I will never forget where I was or what I was doing when the attacks happened,” said President Tim Barbeto of the Teamsters Local 118. “I’m proud to be part of bringing this memorial to our community. It gives us a place to pause, to remember those who never made it home, and to honor the first responders whose courage and sacrifice changed countless lives. I believe it’s our responsibility to make sure the next generation understands not only what happened that day, but also the courage, compassion, and selflessness that emerged in its aftermath.”

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Members of the Rochester Fire Fighters Association also welcomed the new memorial.

“Thank you to Assemblymember Harry Bronson and Monroe County Executive Adam Bello for this memorial ensuring that we will ‘never forget’,” said Rochester Fire Fighters Association President Matt Murphy.

Local public safety leaders said the memorial will also serve as a reminder of the values displayed by first responders on September 11.

“This first responders’ memorial will stand as a lasting reminder of the extraordinary strength of those who answered the call to serve on that dreadful September 11, and who valiantly put others’ lives before their own,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “Although it’s been 25 years, we will never forget. This memorial proves that we, as a community, are committed to honoring the lives we lost and, most importantly, to carrying their memory with us—today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.”

Sheriff Todd Baxter said the events of September 11 continue to influence the law enforcement and public safety community a quarter-century later.

“September 11, 2001 was a terrorist attack on American soil that claimed the lives of innocent people and forever changed our nation,” said Monroe County Sheriff Todd K. Baxter. “A quarter of a century later, the courage and sacrifice of the first responders who answered the call still resonates throughout the law enforcement and public safety community. These heroes ran toward unimaginable danger to protect others and save lives. This memorial gives our community a permanent place to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice, remember those whose lives were forever changed, and remind future generations of what service and courage truly mean. We will never forget.”

The dedication also included the perspective of veterans, whose experiences connect the September 11 attacks with the years of military service that followed.

Laura Heltz, executive director of the Veterans Outreach Center and a U.S. Army veteran, said the memorial can provide a place for people to recognize both the immediate loss caused by the attacks and the lasting effects felt by survivors, families, first responders and military veterans.

“Twenty-five years have passed since the attacks on September 11, 2001, and for many, the scars still remain,” said Veterans Outreach Center Executive Director & U.S. Army veteran Laura Heltz. “For the people who lost friends and family, the first responders who ran toward danger, and all who are forever living with the trauma, this memorial will serve as a way to honor them. This is also an important time to reflect upon the courage of those who served in our armed forces post-9/11, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice during the war that followed. Their bravery will not be forgotten.”

The new memorial comes 25 years after the attacks, at a time when many people who witnessed September 11 firsthand are aging and younger generations have no personal memory of the day. Organizers said that makes permanent places of remembrance especially important.

The attacks killed civilians and first responders and led to years of military conflict and a long recovery effort. Thousands of first responders and other workers who took part in rescue, cleanup and remediation efforts were exposed to hazardous conditions, and many have faced lasting consequences.

By placing the memorial in a public park alongside other memorial spaces, Monroe County has created a location where residents can visit, reflect and learn about the events and the people who responded to them.

The Twin Tower structures and folded American flag are intended to keep the central images of September 11 visible while also emphasizing the service of those who responded. Rather than focusing only on the destruction caused by the attacks, the memorial recognizes the people who moved toward the danger when others were trying to escape it.

The project also reflects cooperation among county government, state government, organized labor, first responder organizations and the local veterans community. Bronson’s state grant provided $350,000 toward construction, while the Rochester-Genesee Valley Area Labor Foundation advocated for the project and labor organizations contributed to its development.

The Monroe County Parks Department will be responsible for routine upkeep and maintenance of the memorial, ensuring that the site remains available to the public in the years ahead.

For Monroe County officials and those who helped bring the project to life, the dedication was both a remembrance of the past and a commitment to the future. The memorial will stand as a place to remember the people who lost their lives, the families who were left behind, the first responders who answered the call and the workers and service members whose lives were changed in the years that followed.

Twenty-five years after September 11, the goal is to make sure those stories remain part of the community’s memory. The new memorial gives Monroe County a permanent setting to do exactly that.