[Almost eight] months ago on Sept. 11, 2001, Ron Kerwin, Lieutenant FDNY Squad 288 and resident of Levittown, lost his life trying to save the lives of others in the World Trade Center terrorist attack. While many brave firefighters, police officers, EMS and civilians lost their lives that day, Ron was very special to the Levittown Community. Ron was also the chief of the Levittown Fire Department until that day when the World Trade Center Towers collapsed.

Ron was a man who gave so much to the fire service and the Levittown community in general. In his 16 years in the Levittown Fire Department, Ron served six years as lieutenant and captain of Ladder Company 1, six years as deputy chief and was just completing his final year of a two-year term as chief of the Levittown Fire Department. Ron was instrumental in advancing the level of personal firefighter safety in the department and the safety of the community. In working with the Levittown Board of Fire Commissioners, Ron was able to secure life saving Automatic External Defibrillators and Thermal Imaging Cameras. During his years of service to Levittown, so many residents were directly and indirectly aided by Ron's skill, professionalism, "love for the job" and his humanity.

Ron's wife Dianne and their three young children, Ryan, Keith and Colleen live in Levittown.

Ron is our Levittown hero. As a special tribute to Ron, the members of the Levittown Fire Department's Ladder Company 1, with the endorsement of the Levittown Fire Chiefs and Board of Fire Commissioners and with the generosity of the community, will construct a brick memorial in his honor. The memorial will be located in front of Levittown Fire Headquarters on Gardiners Avenue for all to visit.

We ask for your support. We are selling personalized bricks for $50 each. These bricks will provide each of you with an opportunity to send a personalized message to Ron and his family immortalized in this memorial. Of course, donations are always welcome.

We thank you for your support. For more information and to obtain a flyer to purchase a brick, please contact the Levittown Fire Department dispatcher's non-emergency number at 731-5800.