Nows and Forevers

The village of Washingtonville, New York, an hour north of the World Trade Center, was forever changed on Sept. 11, 2001. Even before, it was known for its higher-than-average per capita of FDNY. The late Dennis Smith, who wrote the classic “Report from Engine Co. 82,” lived there. That day, five FDNY firefighters from Washingtonville died in the towers’ collapse: Firefighter Mark Whitford, Lt. Glenn C. Perry, Battalion Chief Dennis L. Devlin, Firefighter Gerry Nevins, and Firefighter Bob Hamilton.

Washingtonville never forgets. In a leafy part of the village is a memorial park with a playground and a large memorial to the Washingtonville Five. You expand that lens a few miles in either direction from Washingtonville and many more firefighters from there died that day.

“Dedicated to the honor and memory of America’s heroic rescue workers and innocent civilians who were the victims of the attack on the World Trade Center.”

Washingtonville never forgets. None of us ever should.