Six weeks after the World Trade Center disaster, the Langone brothers, Tom and Peter, were finally given a memorial Mass at St. Aidan's Catholic Church in Williston Park.

A bright, sunny Oct. 26 afternoon brought out up to 5,000 people to pay their final respects to the brothers, both of whom were volunteer firefighters with Roslyn Rescue. Policemen and firefighters from all over the New York City area, including New Jersey, attended the services. Local dignitaries included Archbishop John Dunne, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, New York Lieutenant Governor Mary Donohue, New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, and Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta.

A special visitor was Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating. In April 1995, Tom Langone traveled to Oklahoma City to assist with that city's own terrorist-inflicted tragedy at the Murrah Federal Building. The governor's visit was his state's way of paying respect to one of the many selfless acts committed during Tom's long career as a New York City Police Department's Emergency Service Unit. While Tom served on the NYPD, Peter was himself briefly a police officer, before spending 15 years as a fireman.

The nearly four-hour long memorial began at 11:15 a.m. with an extended moment of silence for the brothers as policemen and firemen paraded and drove up Willis Avenue in front of St. Aidan's. Both the New York City Police Department Pipe and Bugle Corps and the Emerald Society also graced the parade route.

The mass was officiated by Father Robert Hayden, pastor of St. Aidan's. Since the assembled crowd could not all fit into St. Aidan's, a loudspeaker was set up so that those on Willis Avenue could hear both the mass and the memorial service that followed.

In his homily, Father Hayden eulogized the Langone brothers in a manner similar to numerous other tributes given to them over the past several weeks. He noticed how the Roslyn area community had been "honored and awed" not just by the deeds of Peter and Tom, but also by their love and courage and the example they set not just on Sept. 11, but throughout their long careers. "There was no length to which they would not go for the sake of their neighbors," Father Hayden added.

Archbishop Dunne saluted the brothers as not just heroes, but as genuine martyrs. "They were not above shedding their life and blood so that others might have life," the archbishop said in his brief talk.

Other speakers included not just political figures, but friends and colleagues of Peter and Tom. Captain Ed Metcalf, one of Peter's fellow firemen remembered that his fallen friend lived by a few, simple words: Work, duty, love, and fate. He also recalled the numerous fires throughout central Brooklyn where Peter served with courage and distinction.

Steven Stefanakos, a policeman colleague of Tom Langone, remembered the enormous energy and enthusiasm Tom put into his work. "He had a work ethic like no other," Mr. Stefanakos recalled. "As long as Tom got to do a job, it was a good job. No matter where that big job was, Tom was there." Indeed, as Police Commissioner Kerik noted, Tom Langone received no less than 42 medals during his 19 years on the job.

The service ended with talks by political figures. Gov. Keating joked that his fellow Oklahomans noted the "honor, courage, humor, and occasional funny accent" that New York policemen like Tom Langone brought to Oklahoma City, where they themselves were greeted with "honor, professionalism and an occasional funny accent." "The Langone family of New York will always be deeply etched in our memory and in our culture," the governor concluded.

Commissioner Kerik praised the Langone brothers, and in general, the entire heroic performance turned in by firefighters and policemen on Sept. 11 and the days and weeks afterwards. The commissioner said 20,000 to 25,000 lives were saved that day, itself constituting one of the great rescue efforts in American history.

After being introduced to a sustained applause, Mayor Giuliani remembered the many similar events he had attended not just in the wake of Sept. 11, but throughout his eight-year tenure as New York City mayor.

"I've gone to many funerals before," the mayor said, "and I always wonder where we find men like this, men who walk into fires, when people are running out. The answer is because they come from very strong, loving families. [They have] parents that teach values of caring and love. So it is appropriate that families get credit for what they accomplish." And indeed, even louder and longer ovations were given to the wives and children of all the firemen and policemen affected by the events of Sept. 11. Peter Langone is survived by his wife, Terri and daughters, Nikki and Karli. Tom is survived by his wife, Jo Ann, daughter Caitlin and son Brian. Both men are also survived by their mother, Sheila, and their sisters, Joanne and Rosemary.

The service ended with American flags being presented to surviving family members, a helicopter salute overhead, and a basket full of white doves sent flying into the cloudless, autumn sky.