Local retired NYC firefighters gather to pay tribute to fallen comrades

Retired New York City firefighters now living in North and South Carolina joined together Friday for a ceremony at Brunswick Community College to pay tribute to their 343 fallen comrades.

As bag pipes played, family, friends, and retired firefighters adorned in red, white, and blue, embraced one another and prayed.

An American flag that once flew near the South Tower during rescue operations was hoisted to half-staff. An overwhelming sense of pride filled the air.

“The men that went into those buildings knew there was a very good chance they weren’t coming out, but they also knew there were people in there who needed their help, those are the real heroes,” said NYPD retiree Lou Haarstick.

FDNY retiree Eugene Scherrer said, “I remember all the brothers that I worked with, and all the brothers that I never even knew, and it brings us together in a memorial and in the spirit of togetherness, it’s a wonderful day.”

163 known FDNY retirees now live in North and South Carolina, many of them took part in the rescue efforts at Ground Zero.