" My first experience with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation occurred shortly after the terrorist acts on September 11, 2001, during which I lost my brother, Firefighter Peter Brennan. Chief Ron Siarnicki came to New York to offer the Foundation's assistance to the Fire Department of New York. As a member of the Counseling Services Unit of the FDNY, one of my tasks was to open up a Family Assistance Center at Fort Totten, NY for the families of the fallen firefighters and for the surviving firefighters.
The Foundation's offer of help was tremendous. They helped the FDNY obtain everything necessary to run an office, from pens and pencils to furniture, to additional counselors which were so desperately needed. The FDNY was overwhelmed by the events and overwhelmed with the help which they offered us. The NFFF not only obtained burial flags, bunting for all of the firehouses that took casualties, cell phones and fax machines for each family liaison, they organized the Chaplain core for round-the-clock vigils at all the morgue sites. In my time of great loss, I found new friends; friends that understood and shared my sorrow. Friends that I know, as a survivor, I can still turn to today. Although we all came together because of a tragedy, I am proud to be a part of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation family. As part of this family, I am ready to offer my knowledge, my experience and my assistance to the Foundation in any way that I can. "
At one time or another, most little boys want to be either a policeman or a firefighter. My brother, Peter, was fortunate enough to be both. When Peter was only ten years old, he knew he wanted to help people. As a teenager, he joined the Civic Patrol in his hometown of Ronkonkoma, NY. At twenty, he joined the NYC Police Department. A few years later he transferred into the Fire Department of New York finally achieving his lifelong dream. On graduation day, I don't know who was more proud, Peter or his family.
Peter was married to his childhood sweetheart, Erica, and had a precious two-year old daughter and another child on the way when he was taken from us on September 11, 2001 at the North Tower of the World Trade Center.
Prior to that horrific day, Peter had been detailed to Rescue 4 pending his transfer from Squad 288. September 10, 2001 was a beautiful day for Peter and his wife. It was her 29th birthday and they had gone out and celebrated both her birthday and the anticipated arrival of their second child which was due at the end of December.
With a new baby coming, a new house to fix up, and a very demanding job, Peter still found time to contribute to his community by being a volunteer firefighter in Ronkonkoma. In fact, during the summer of 2001 Peter and two other volunteer firefighters had saved the lives of 2 individuals at a fire in his hometown. For this, Peter was awarded the title of Ronkonkoma's Volunteer Firefighter of the Year. A dinner to honor Peter was to be held in November 2001; instead, they had a dinner to memorialize him.
There isn't a day that goes by that Pete and his family doesn't drift into my thoughts. Peter's son was born on December 30, 2001. I find comfort in the fact that I know Pete gave his all doing something he loved. I just wish we could have prevented the attacks on our country that day; a day that altered thousands of lives forever.