9-11 Patch Project Keeps Memory of Fallen FDNY Firefighters Alive Through Charitable Works

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The 9-11 Patch Project was founded in 2002 by retired Pasadena Firefighter/Paramedic Brett Hill, with the dual purpose of raising money for families of fallen FDNY firefighters and perpetuating the memory of the 343 heroes that died on September 11, 2001.  Eight years later, it has grown beyond Hill's expectations and over 5000 organizations in 22 countries have adopted this tribute.  More importantly, many firefighters and their families across the United States have been helped because of his fundraising efforts.

History of the 9-11 Patch Project

Formally known as the National Firefighters 9-11 Memorial Patch, Brett Hill began the project after one of his colleagues returned from assisting with search efforts at the World Trade Center, and recounted how one of the FDNY firefighters he worked with there told him, "Please don't forget us."  Moved by this, Hill designed the first memorial patch, which included the World Trade Center skyline with a background of the US flag, the words "We Will Never Forget", and a firefighter holding an axe rising above the World Trade Center.  According to Hill, the design signified that what happened on September 11th "is a huge tragedy, but the fire service as a whole is going to rise above this."  He felt that raising funds for those in need was one of the best ways of going about this.

After producing and selling the initial run of the 9-11 Patches, Hill was able to present the Uniformed Firefighters Association Widows' and Children's' Fund of the FDNY with a check for $15,000 on the first anniversary of the events of September 11th.  Since then he has raised approximately $125,000, with proceeds going to a variety of charities that help firefighters, their families, and fire departments in need.

Agencies That Include the 9-11 Patch as Part of Their Official Uniform

The scope of the agencies that have purchased the 9-11 Patch for their members ranges from fire departments to law enforcement agencies to the United States Military.  Several agencies have officially allowed the patch to be a part of their members' uniforms, and many first responders also wear the patch on their personal attire.

One Southern California fire department that has made the 9-11 Patch a permanent part of their uniform is the Manhattan Beach Fire Department.  Several of their members went to the World Trade Center in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks to assist with the search, rescue and recovery efforts, and beams from the Trade Center are the centerpiece of a memorial outside the department.

Manhattan Beach Captain Tim O'Brien was part of that team that was deployed 9 years ago, and he said, "The whole event, there's a lot of layers to it.  As a citizen of this country, we were all impacted, and then beyond that as a firefighter, that's a whole other level of our brotherhood that was impacted to a degree that hasn't been seen in any other event in this country's history."  Wearing the patch is important to O'Brien and his fellow firefighters to keep the memory of their New York brethren alive.

Charities That Benefit From the 9-11 Patch Project 10th Anniversary Patch

On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, Brett Hill has designed a new version of the patch, and is working harder than ever to market it in order to raise funds for those in need in the firefighting community.  The proceeds of the 9-11 Patch Project are currently going to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund and a scholarship fund administered by the FDNY's Uniformed Fire Officers Association (IAFF Local 854).  The Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) performed a six month intensive study into the 9-11 Patch Project, and gave the project its official support earlier this year.

The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund was established by the family of Terry Farrell, a member of FDNY Rescue 4 and Fire Chief of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department who perished in the collapse of the World Trade Center.  Since 2002, the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund has raised thousands of dollars, which it gives to the families of fallen and injured firefighters for medical and educational assistance and also uses to obtain much-needed equipment for underfunded fire departments.

The UFOA's scholarship fund provides money for the children of firefighters who perished on September 11th and in other tragedies, enabling them to further their education.  The UFOA and the Uniformed Firefighters Association have both committed to purchasing the 9-11 Patches for all of their members, but much more support is needed from agencies across the United States and around the world.

Deputy Chief Richard Alles of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association explained how firefighters help one another in times of need and that once again he feels they will band together and purchase the 9-11 Patches, saying, "The firefighting community throughout the country is a very tight-knit community.  We want to thank our brothers and sisters from across the country who came to help us in our time of need, not only on 9/11, not only in the days after, but that continue in the months, in the years past.  Every time we put the word out they are there for support.  And the American people who truly love and idolize firefighters - we want to thank them for their support.  We are always there for them, and now we need them to help us, as we're always there to help them."

How to Get Involved

Those who benefit from the sales of the 9-11 Patch say that it is important for everyone to remember what happened on September 11, 2001 and to never forget those who gave their lives that day.  Wearing this patch keeps their memory alive by helping those in need and by creating unity amongst people from all over the world.

Brett Hill says of the Patch Project and the upcoming anniversary, "This is a significant milestone in the history of the Project.  It's 10 years that have gone by, and we've remembered all these years.  We want to get more people on board - more people to not only remember the event, but to participate, to wear the patch, to join in on the creation of unity that we started back in 2002."

The 9-11 Patch Project is offering several versions of the 9-11 Patch, along with vehicle window decals, and helmet decals.  They start in price at $1.95 and go up to $5.95 each.  They can be ordered online or via a mail-in order form.  For more information, visit www.9-11patchproject.org.

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History of the 9-11 Patch Project


Author:Wendy Gillette - Video, Karen Batista - Text