Charity challenge coin commemorating first responders killed in 9/11 attacks forged
DFB District Officer Martin Cooke, Station Officer Richie McDonald, Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley and firefighters Derek Riordan and Ray McMonagle at the wreath laying ceremony

Charity challenge coin commemorating first responders killed in 9/11 attacks forged

A CHALLENGE coin commemorating the first responders killed in the 9/11 attacks has been forged by Dublin Fire Brigade to raise money for charity.

Tallaght firefighter Derek Riordan created the challenge coin which possesses the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), FDNY Paramedic and Fire Patrol logos together with American flag and twin towers.

Around that it has the phrase “Ní dhéanfaimid rearmed go deo”, which translates to “we will never forget” along with the date, September 11 2001, and the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) crest on the flip side.

With it being 20 years since that faithful day, Derek wanted to recognise the sacrifices of the first responders to the World Trade Centre.

More than 3,000 people were killed in the September 11 attacks.

“We wanted to do a fundraiser for the Friends of Firefighters, a New York-based charity that looks after families of firefighters lost in the line of duty,” Derek tells The Echo.

“They’d help with partners and children of firefighters and they also offer Critical Incident Stress Management.”

The initial 500 coins that were created were snapped up here in Ireland.

But soon after, Battalion Chief in the FDNY, Daniel Sheridan, ordered an additional 500 to sell in the United States.

There is a grand total of 1000 up for grabs stateside now through Sheridan, Friends of Firefighters and the FDNY official merchandise store, Fire Zone, at www.fdnysmart.org/firezone.

A special wreath laying ceremony was held at the United States Ambassador’s residence in commemoration of the 20 year anniversary a couple of weeks ago.

Members of Dublin Fire Brigade were present, including Derek Riordan and Chief Fire Officer Dennis Keeley, as they laid a wreath at a memorial, which includes a piece of steel from the World Trade Centre.

An American fire truck, which belongs to Crumlin man Liam Moore, was brought to the special ceremony along with a DFB truck.

The American fire truck in question served 32 years at The City of Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department in New York and according to Riordan, it responded to the 9/11 attacks.

“We have always had strong connections with the FDNY, we’re hoping to do some sort of charity cycle with them here in Ireland next year.”

Funds raised from the sale of the Dublin Fire Brigade 9/11 20th Anniversary coin are going to Friends of Firefighters.

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