Plainview's Junior Volunteers Journey to Ground Zero

The Plainview Volunteer Fire Dept. Juniors and and their advisors visited the Sept. 11 Memorial last week to honor those who serve.

The advisors arrived at the memorial with 18 juniors at about 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 10, first stopping at the 9/11 Tribute Center at 120 Liberty St., where they reflected on the stories of the people who were there that day.

The group proceeded to Ground Zero and watched the Sept. 11 Memorial Veterans Ceremony, which included a rendition of Taps and a selection by the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes & Drums.

Active duty military personnel tied yellow ribbons to the "Survivor Tree"which survived the horrific terrorist attack that killed nearly 3,000 people, including 343 members of the F.D.N.Y. Many first responders continue to die from the effects of "Ground Zero Illness," the cancer peculiar to those who worked for weeks on "The Pile."

Plainview's Juniors then walked around the fountains reading the names of the fallen.

The Juniors Program has supports the fire department by engaging youth, ages 13 -17 in learning about, and ultimately becoming, members of the department. The juniors learn about the different tools used in the Engine and Truck companies and the fire department's Rescue Squad.

Whether you want to learn to become a firefighter or an EMT, members say this is a great place to start.

Information is available on the www.PlainviewFD.Org website.

With special thanks from Patch to David Walker