Hudson Valley Firefighters Honored at Ceremony in Upstate New York

The New York Fallen Firefighters Memorial added the names of 126 firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty at a ceremony on Tuesday in Albany, NY.

The names of 126 New York firefighters were added to the state’s Fallen Firefighters Memorial wall this week at the 28th annual New York Fallen Firefighters Memorial ceremony. The ceremony, which takes place during Fire Prevention Week each year, honors firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty.

New York Firefighters Added to Fallen Firefighters Memorial

This year's ceremony added the names of 126 fallen firefighters from New York to the memorial wall, joining 2,692 others, including a few names from the Hudson Valley region. Chief Fred Ostrander from the Walden Fire Department, and Robert H. Van Tassel, a senior fire technician from Global Foundries Fire Brigade in Dutchess County, NY. Chief Daniel J. Raftery from the Greenville Fire District, Captain Richard A. Raus from the Mount Vernon Fire Department, and Paul R. Sutorius, a firefighter from the Pelham Manor Fire Department, were also added to the memorial wall this year.

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James B. Cable, New York State Fire Administrator, said that most of those being honored this year, unfortunately, lost their lives from 9/11 related illnesses. He told WTEN,

"Unfortunately, that’s a number that continues to rise. That includes members both from FDNY and other departments that responses on that day. Others were lost to heart attacks, or incidents on fire scenes."

 

Fallen Firefighters Memorial in New York

The memorial mall, which was dedicated by New York Governor George E. Pataki in 1998 is located on the Empire State Plaza (1 Lancaster Street) in Albany, NY, between the Justice Building and The Egg. Each family that lost a loved one is presented with a flag during the yearly ceremony.

In 2024, 32 firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty were added to the memorial wall.