This week marks the 50th anniversary of the 23rd Street Fire. A fire which, according to an article on the New York Times website, had killed more firefighters than any other city disaster until 9/11. This anniversary comes in the aftermath of a City still-mourning the late FDNY Battalion Chief Michael Fahy lost is life in the line of fire last month while on duty. He would be the 1,145th firefighter to die as a result of his work. Just this past week, Mayor Bill de Blasio held a service for the late Battalion Chief at the Firemen’s Memorial. Each of these events and many others have been commemorated by monuments, solemn moments of silence, and days of remembrance.

The comradery that comes with such disasters runs thick among these brave individuals who put their lives on the line so others don’t have to. Not just among members of organizations such as the FDNY, but throughout the great City they serve as well. New York City itself seems to serve as a memorial for its fallen service members. It’s more than safe to call this a culture among those who belong to these organizations, or are close to someone in them. Memorial walks, 5k’s, fundraisers, parks, statues, and more are common to see. With a City that has seen so much, how could this not be the case? It warrants both pride and devastation for these brave individuals. To read more about the events mentioned above, please see the articles linked.

FDNY dedicates memorial to Battalion Chief Michael Fahy, killed in Bronx drug house blast: ‘We never forget’

50 Years Later, Recalling a Manhattan Blaze That Killed 12 Firefighters