Firefighters, including Captain Porcari, honored during Memorial Ceremony

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo last week commemorated the 17th Annual Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony by issuing two proclamations honoring the State’s career and volunteer firefighters. The proclamations marked Oct. 7 as the annual Firefighter Appreciation Day, and Oct. 5-11 as New York’s annual Fire Prevention Week. During the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony in Albany, nine brave individuals were added to the Memorial to include Captain Matthew J. Porcari, from the Owego Fire Department, who died in the line of duty on Jan. 22, 2013.
In a press release, Governor Andrew Cuomo stated, “Today we honor New York firefighters who time and time again put their lives on the line to help their neighbors and keep their communities safe. We also honor the memory of nine selfless individuals from across this state who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. Their names will never be forgotten and will forever be in our thoughts and prayers.”
Including the nine fallen firefighters whose names were added to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial, there are now the names of 2,390 firefighters who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Also included from Broome County was Firefighter John M. Janos of the Binghamton Fire Department in Broome County who died on April 6, 2013.
The Fallen Firefighter Memorial, dedicated in 1998, honors the memory and the valor of our fallen firefighters commemorated at the Memorial during Fire Prevention Week each year, as well as pays tribute to the over 100,000 New York State firefighters who put their lives on the line every day. Fire Departments statewide respond to approximately 1.8 million incidents each year, which represents approximately 5,100 incidents daily, 215 incidents per hour, and four incidents a minute.
Michael McManus, president of the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association said, “The New York State Professional Fire Fighters honor our brave members who have paid the supreme sacrifice. We will never forget all those that went before us with great courage.”