NEW YORK—Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly, many police officers, and family members gathered at the Police Memorial in Battery Park on Wednesday to mourn the passing of twelve NYPD officers lost over the past year.
The names of the 12 officers were inscribed on the memorial wall, alongside thousands of others killed in the line of duty over the years, and unveiled as part of the annual NYPD Memorial.
Of the 12, 11 died of illnesses related to their rescue and recovery efforts at ground zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Another officer was killed, after only three years of service, by friendly police fire while pursuing a suspected car thief.
“We owe them our solemn commitment to honor their memories and take care of everyone affected by the [9/11] attacks,” said Bloomberg. “That means continuing to learn about and address the health impacts of 9/11. Together with our city’s Congressional delegation, we’ve made the creation of a dedicated federal funding stream for research and treatment of 9/11-related health conditions a top priority.”
The mayor pointed to the progress made in Washington with the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in the House of Representatives two weeks ago. The legislation calls for medical monitoring and treatment of those affected the by the World Trade Center attacks.
“This beautiful setting stands in stark contrast to the scenes of devastation many of them confronted nine years ago at the World Trade Center. It is a fitting place for us to honor their memory and to reflect on the lives of those police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep the rest of us safe,” Bloomberg said.
The monument in Battery Park, on the shore of the Hudson River, symbolizes the life of a police officer. It begins with a fountain, marking the genesis or the entrance into service. The water, representing the officer’s life of duty, flows forth from this point.
The families of the fallen officers sat alongside the stream, a fitting spot for the occasion. The lives represented by the flowing water there were also immortalized in the memories of those present.
The family of Omar Edwards, the officer whose life was cut short at 25 years of age by the bullet of his comrade, sat in the front row. They were presented with the Medal of Honor in Omar’s name earlier this year.
The mourners then followed the stream into an outdoor room formed by two granite walls—an isolated place of contemplation, where the running water becomes a still pool. There, the names of the 12 fallen police officers were unveiled by a stoic, somber-faced officer. Three flags stood at half-mast before the first wall, symbolizing the death of an officer, while the back wall displayed the names of those killed in the line of duty.
The proposed World Trade Center memorial nearby will continue the metaphor of water from the Police Memorial. Titled “Reflecting Absence,” the memorial will feature two large pools to represent the fallen twin towers.
The names of the 12 officers were inscribed on the memorial wall, alongside thousands of others killed in the line of duty over the years, and unveiled as part of the annual NYPD Memorial.
Of the 12, 11 died of illnesses related to their rescue and recovery efforts at ground zero in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Another officer was killed, after only three years of service, by friendly police fire while pursuing a suspected car thief.
“We owe them our solemn commitment to honor their memories and take care of everyone affected by the [9/11] attacks,” said Bloomberg. “That means continuing to learn about and address the health impacts of 9/11. Together with our city’s Congressional delegation, we’ve made the creation of a dedicated federal funding stream for research and treatment of 9/11-related health conditions a top priority.”
The mayor pointed to the progress made in Washington with the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act in the House of Representatives two weeks ago. The legislation calls for medical monitoring and treatment of those affected the by the World Trade Center attacks.
“This beautiful setting stands in stark contrast to the scenes of devastation many of them confronted nine years ago at the World Trade Center. It is a fitting place for us to honor their memory and to reflect on the lives of those police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep the rest of us safe,” Bloomberg said.
The monument in Battery Park, on the shore of the Hudson River, symbolizes the life of a police officer. It begins with a fountain, marking the genesis or the entrance into service. The water, representing the officer’s life of duty, flows forth from this point.
The families of the fallen officers sat alongside the stream, a fitting spot for the occasion. The lives represented by the flowing water there were also immortalized in the memories of those present.
The family of Omar Edwards, the officer whose life was cut short at 25 years of age by the bullet of his comrade, sat in the front row. They were presented with the Medal of Honor in Omar’s name earlier this year.
The mourners then followed the stream into an outdoor room formed by two granite walls—an isolated place of contemplation, where the running water becomes a still pool. There, the names of the 12 fallen police officers were unveiled by a stoic, somber-faced officer. Three flags stood at half-mast before the first wall, symbolizing the death of an officer, while the back wall displayed the names of those killed in the line of duty.
The proposed World Trade Center memorial nearby will continue the metaphor of water from the Police Memorial. Titled “Reflecting Absence,” the memorial will feature two large pools to represent the fallen twin towers.
