Families of Fallen NYPD and FDNY Gather at Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast
TWC News: Families of Fallen NYPD and FDNY Gather at Annual Thanksgiving Breakfast
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Every Thanksgiving since 2001, the
National Law Enforcement and Firefighter's Children's Foundation hosts a
breakfast for families who have had loved ones die in the line of duty.
NY1's Jose Martinez filed the following report.
It's got a prime view of the parade and A-list guests, but this is one Thanksgiving tradition almost everyone in this crowd could happily do without.
Like Andrea O'Hagan, whose twin sons were a year and a half old when their dad, FDNY Lieutenant Thomas O'Hagan, was killed on September 11th.
"I would prefer to be at home roasting the turkey with my husband, but this is what we're dealing with now,” said O'Hagan.
It's an event that started a couple of months after 9/11. Every Thanksgiving since 2001, the National Law Enforcement and Firefighter's Children's Foundation has hosted a breakfast for families who have had loved ones die in the line of duty.
"It's a good thing that they do, and we're grateful for it,” said O'Hagan.
On Thursday, more than 1,000 family members gathered again at the Bryant Park Grill.
"It became apparent to me that this is a long-term commitment because these kids will always need support going forward, in terms of what their lives are going to be like after losing a parent,” said Al Kahn of the National Law Enforcement and Firefighters Children’s Foundation.
The foundation has awarded more than 250 scholarships to children whose parents were killed or disabled while in the line of duty.
"Unfortunately, this city certainly has experienced too many of those losses, but this is a way of saying, 'Thank you,' giving back and having a very special day,” said NYPD Commissioner William Bratton.
The event has also had the support of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who said Kahn is a standout among those who helped their fellow New Yorkers after 9/11.
"They did a lot of good things, some of them for a year, some for two years, some for three. Very few people stay with it. Al has done it for 14 years. I don't think he's ever going to stop,” said Giuliani.
Organizers say that's exactly right.
And the families will be back here again next year. Same time, same place.
It's got a prime view of the parade and A-list guests, but this is one Thanksgiving tradition almost everyone in this crowd could happily do without.
Like Andrea O'Hagan, whose twin sons were a year and a half old when their dad, FDNY Lieutenant Thomas O'Hagan, was killed on September 11th.
"I would prefer to be at home roasting the turkey with my husband, but this is what we're dealing with now,” said O'Hagan.
It's an event that started a couple of months after 9/11. Every Thanksgiving since 2001, the National Law Enforcement and Firefighter's Children's Foundation has hosted a breakfast for families who have had loved ones die in the line of duty.
"It's a good thing that they do, and we're grateful for it,” said O'Hagan.
On Thursday, more than 1,000 family members gathered again at the Bryant Park Grill.
"It became apparent to me that this is a long-term commitment because these kids will always need support going forward, in terms of what their lives are going to be like after losing a parent,” said Al Kahn of the National Law Enforcement and Firefighters Children’s Foundation.
The foundation has awarded more than 250 scholarships to children whose parents were killed or disabled while in the line of duty.
"Unfortunately, this city certainly has experienced too many of those losses, but this is a way of saying, 'Thank you,' giving back and having a very special day,” said NYPD Commissioner William Bratton.
The event has also had the support of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who said Kahn is a standout among those who helped their fellow New Yorkers after 9/11.
"They did a lot of good things, some of them for a year, some for two years, some for three. Very few people stay with it. Al has done it for 14 years. I don't think he's ever going to stop,” said Giuliani.
Organizers say that's exactly right.
And the families will be back here again next year. Same time, same place.
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