I didn't notice this sub-benchian plaque last time we were here — it was probably buried under the snow. It reads:
Maspeth Is Grateful(The inscription on the back of the bench says: "From your friends in Colorado".)
This bench and a multitude of prayers and acts of kindness have been delivered to Squad 288, Haz Mat 1 and the victims of the 9-11-01 tragedy by the West Metro Fire and Rescue, Lakewood, Colorado.
Dedicated May 30, 2004
Located just across the street from the 9/11 memorial in the previous picture, Squad 288/HazMat 1 lost 19 men on 9/11, more than any other firehouse in the city.
(If you look at the street signs, you can see this block has been co-named for Frank Koestner, making it one of many in the city honoring a victim of 9/11.)
The Myrtle Avenue Line, a remnant of the old Myrtle Avenue El
Unlike its tightly packed neighbors, this house abutting All Faiths Cemetery has plenty of room to stretch its legs out.
Complete with requisite teenagers hanging out and smoking (there was a similar group loitering at the other end of the bridge as well)
This explains why the pedestrian bridge ramp is seven miles long.
The plaque reads:
PS 58
THE SCHOOL OF HEROES
On September 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by international terrorists who used passenger airlines as their weapons. In New York City, the World Trade Center was destroyed. The Pentagon in Washington D.C. was attacked. A fourth airliner was diverted from the White House by the brave passengers aboard the plane. Many lives were lost that day.
September 11, 2001 will be remembered as a day in which the world's greatest rescue mission was accomplished.
New York City Firefighters, Police Officers, Emergency Medical Technicians and Port Authority Police Officers made a valiant effort saving countless lives at Manhattan's World Trade Center. Over 25,000 people from the Twin Towers and the surrounding buildings were evacuated before the buildings collapsed. Survivors tell of rescue workers climbing upward, directing people through smoke filled stairs and corridors down to the street and to safety. Without the sacrifices that these brave men and woman [sic] made, many more people would have perished.
This school honors the memory of those uniformed heroes from our school community who unselfishly dedicated their lives to the welfare, health, and safety of the people of New York City. Their courage and heroism inspired the naming of P.S. 58 "The School of Heroes". The events of September 11, 2001 have unified the American people and reaffirmed our commitment to freedom. This school stands as a symbol of that unification and commitment.
The students of P.S. 58 will forever remember that freedom is not free, it must be earned.
