The Westbury and Carle Place fire departments gave tireless support and assistance to the emergency operations in New York City immediately following the September 11 World Trade Center attack.

The Westbury Fire Department headed for the stricken city that Tuesday afternoon, according to Chief Richard Dellacona. The department sent in the Tower Ladder, Heavy Rescue Truck and Ambulance. Members continued to respond in shifts throughout the week of September 11.

The department's first orders were to report to a staging area at Belmont Racetrack. From there, the tower ladder went to cover a firehouse on Jamaica Avenue, Queens. The ambulance went to Manhattan, and was on standby at Cornell Medical Center. The rescue vehicle went to the World Trade Center. By late Tuesday night, all three of the Westbury trucks were at Ground Zero. Approximately 50 Westbury firefighters responded in total.

Hundreds of New York City firefighters and police officers were lost in the attack, during their brave efforts to save lives, including more than 300 firefighters.

The Westbury and Carle Place fire departments have assisted in the many funerals and memorial services that are now taking place for the fallen heroes. In particular, some funerals for the heroes are taking place at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, and the Westbury fire department has been helping by setting up flags and arches there.

Many of the volunteer members of the Westbury department are employed as firefighters, police officers and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) technicians, and have therefore been immersed in the tragedy and the rescue and recovery operations.

Dellacona noted that the Westbury Fire Department was fortunate not to lose any of its own members, but that members have been deeply affected by the trauma of seeing the massive devastation and loss of human life in New York City. "It's something that they'll have to live with for the rest of their lives," he said.

More than 35 members of the the Carle Place Fire Department were involved in the response to the attack, according to Carle Place Chief James Mezey. The Carle Place department had an ambulance at a staging area in Manhattan, a light truck in Manhattan, which eventually moved to the South Street Seaport, and an ambulance on standby at Shea Stadium. The Carle Place Fire Department, which also includes New York City emergency personnel, was also fortunate not to lose any members, but said Chief Mezey, "We had some members that had some pretty close calls themselves though."

Both the Westbury and Carle Place fire departments thanked the local community for the outpouring of support shown to them. "The community has been very good to us," said Westbury Chief Dellacona, noting that local folks dropped off donations of food and clothing at the firehouse, and that the department received hundreds of phone calls of support. "The public has been overwhelmingly supportive." Olive Garden restaurant of Westbury and the Culinary Academy of Westbury also donated food.

The Carle Place Fire Department also received an abundance of donations from the community. Many local residents dropped off supplies for the rescue effort at the local firehouse, and department members shuttled those items to the Red Cross when traveling into the city for their shifts in the response effort. "The town is very supportive," said Chief Mezey.

Chief Mezey also expressed much pride in the Carle Place fire department members who participated in the huge response effort. "I was really proud of them," he said. "It showed that we can stand up and be counted."

Those wishing to contribute to the families of the victims of the attack may donate to a fund established by New York State: New York State World Trade Center Relief Fund, P.O. Box 5028, Albany, NY 12205 (Donor Hotline: 1-800-801-8092). For information on donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, one may call 1-800-HELP-NOW, or visit the Red Cross website at www.redcross.org. Donations to the families of uniformed workers, and the many others lost in the attack, may be sent to a fund established by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani: Twin Towers Fund, P.O. Box 26999, General Post Office, New York, NY 10087-6999 (by telephone: 1-877-870-4278).