The Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance in KeySpan Park stands as a graceful and beautiful tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11th, 2001. Three 30 x 12 panels form the Coney Island memorial, containing the laser-engraved images of 346 Firefighters, 37 Port Authority Officers, 23 NYC Police Officers, 3 NYS Officers, 1 Fire Patrol, First responders and 1 K-9 Rescue dog named Sirus. Touched by the magnitude of their sacrifice, Brooklyn-born and raised Sol Moglen conceived of the idea for a memorial commemorating the loss of Brooklyn Firefighters. He also recognized the particular despair of those families whose loved ones were never found. The Wall of Remembrance gives them a place to come, where the Lost are honored and recognized.
Shortly after 9/11, Sol presented his idea of a memorial wall to FDNY Chaplain Rabbi Joseph Potasnik. Over a third of the firefighters lost that day were from Brooklyn, and Brooklyn should honor them, he said. The Rabbi and many others agreed. Peter Kasten of New Hyde Park, L.I.-based U.S. Bronze Sign Co. worked with Sol to come up with the original design. Everyone involved agreed that the images would be placed on the wall according to their companies. "They went in as a team, and we kept them as a team," said Moglen. Sol, along with Peter Kasten and dozens of other volunteers, began raising the more than $140,000 needed. The project has special meaning for Kasten. Firefighter Chris Pickford, killed on Sept. 11, was Kasten's best friend growing up.
On the Wall, their portraits form a powerful, unforgettable testament, eloquently reminding us these are real people behind the names and numbers of September 11.
Shortly after 9/11, Sol presented his idea of a memorial wall to FDNY Chaplain Rabbi Joseph Potasnik. Over a third of the firefighters lost that day were from Brooklyn, and Brooklyn should honor them, he said. The Rabbi and many others agreed. Peter Kasten of New Hyde Park, L.I.-based U.S. Bronze Sign Co. worked with Sol to come up with the original design. Everyone involved agreed that the images would be placed on the wall according to their companies. "They went in as a team, and we kept them as a team," said Moglen. Sol, along with Peter Kasten and dozens of other volunteers, began raising the more than $140,000 needed. The project has special meaning for Kasten. Firefighter Chris Pickford, killed on Sept. 11, was Kasten's best friend growing up.
On the Wall, their portraits form a powerful, unforgettable testament, eloquently reminding us these are real people behind the names and numbers of September 11.
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“The words of a beautiful song state, ”There are people with hearts of stone, and there are stones with hearts of people.” The Wall of Remembrance enables us to stand together in a sacred space remembering those whose hearts overflowed with love and whose courageous hands reached out to the many they tried to save on that day. Their selfless sacrifice is the story of hope in the midst of horror”
- Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, FDNY Chaplain "On the Wall, their portraits form a powerful, unforgettable testament, eloquently reminding us these are real people behind the names and numbers of September 11. The Brooklyn Wall “And we must realize that we always have a tremendous opportunity to turn this act of hate into an act of hope. The rest of the world can take a page from Brooklyn, because we are the proud home to everyone from everywhere. And we’ve proven we will continue living peacefully as one.” - Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President Foreword, Heroes "Looking back, the sun was so bright that day, the air still warm with the last of summer, and the first hints of fall. It was a beautiful September day, a day, that for New Yorkers in particular, and for Americans and people of good will the world over, will always be remembered, not for the beauty of the day, but its tragedy. For the first time in almost two hundred years, war had come to us."
- Suzanne Spellen, narrator Excerpt from Heroes |
Original Wall Panel. Models for the mourning firefighters are: Capt. Luke Lynch and Lt. Dennis Farrell
The law enforcement panel
The second FDNY panel with firefighters from the Bronx, queens, Staten Island and Manhattan
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We were proud recipients of 2 pieces of WTC steel thanks to the efforts of Debora Jackson, Honorary Director. As spaceholders on the Western Wall of Maimonides Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones we needed to find the most appropriate way to display the steel. Founder Sol Moglen thought they could be reimagined as flag holders. We now have one red for FDNY and one Blue for NYPD and PAPD. They are a beautiful addition to the Wall.
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