Firefighters to run 34.3 miles to World Trade Center to honor FDNY members who died on 9/11
MANHATTAN, New York (WABC) -- Thursday marks 24 years since the September 11th terror attacks in New York, Washington, and a field in Pennsylvania.
On Thursday morning, a group of firefighters and their families will be running to remember, and to remind others to never forget.
They will make their way from Long Island to the World Trade Center to honor the 343 members of the FDNY who were lost on that horrific day.
In the Rockaways, Etan Blatt took a last-minute warm-up for a big race on Thursday.
"I'm not gonna run 343 miles, I don't have time. I wish I could, but I'm like I could do 34.3 in one shot," FDNY firefighter Etan Blatt, said.
The number 343 is sacred in the FDNY. That's how many members of New York's bravest died on September 11.
Thursday is the fifth year that firefighter Etan Blatt will run 34.3 miles from Long Beach to the World Trade Center.
"The original mission was always to put the flag on the shoulder, and remind people what tomorrow is," Blatt said.
It started with only Blatt with a thin red line flag. But since then, it has become the 34.3 Foundation, which raises money for firefighters' families when they need help the most.
"If you pass away off duty, there's less benefits you might not even get your pension. It's really all about taking care of each other on this job," Blatt said.
By this time last year, Blatt had been joined by dozens of fellow FDNY members, including Joe Downey, the grandson of Ray Downey, a legendary hero who died on 9/11 when Joe was only 5 years old.
"My grandfather, he had four values in his life. Family, faith, fitness and the FDNY. So hearing about this run this was a sum of all these values in one," Joe Downey said.
So many members of the fire department hadn't even been born when 9/11 happened.
Downey will join the run to keep that memory alive.
"Part of that responsibility is being there and honoring the sacrifice, making sure people don't forget. Cause people do. If they're not directly affected by it, they do forget. So I'm here with the other guys, the other brothers, to remind people never forget," Downey said.
By mid-afternoon, the group expects to make it to the memorial pools at ground zero, where they'll reflect on 24 years that have gone by and continue their mission to support New York's bravest.
If you would like to make a contribution, go to the 34.3 Foundation website here.
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