The FDNY firehouse that has the unenviable distinction of having lost the most members on 9/11 held a somber ceremony this morning.
About 300 mourners showed up at Engine 54/Ladder 4/Battalion 9 to honor the 15 lost men, whose names were inscribed on a new plaque that will be permanently displayed in the Midtown Manhattan fire house.
“We’ve moved on with our life but it will never be the same,” said Stacy Cooke, who lost her father, Capt. Dave Wooley.
“It’s something you just never get over.”
He was 53 and had been working frequent overtime shifts at the time of the attacks to pay for her wedding.
“We come every year. It’s absolutely beautiful, an unbelievable tribute to all these men,” said Cooke, who came with her daughter, brother, mother, and husband.
They plan on going to the new 9-11 Memorial later today and will be there when Wooley’s name is read at the downtown ceremony.
Joseph Nardone, the battalion chief commander during 9/11, read the names of the fallen and told the crowd of weeping family members and colleagues that “we will never forget” their service.
“This is a day for remembering broken hearts and unspeakable horrors,” he said.
“In our firehouse 28 children have grown up with out fathers … we will never forget their sacrifice.”
Maureen Ragaglia, of Staten Island, lost her son Leonard Ragaglia. He was 36.
“He was my oldest boy, my first born,” said the mother of 11.
“He was my hero before 9-11 and now he’s everybody’s hero.”
Today when she saw the new plaque with his name on it, she said she could “barely stand.”
“It gets harder every year,” she said.
The last time she’d spoken to him was on Sept. 10, 2001.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, mom. I love you,” he told her.
Another one of her sons, Danny Ragaglia, said the ceremony was comforting.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” he said.