Photograph by Doug Rider
New York firefighter Robert Schneider, from Engine Company 201 in Brooklyn, New York, greets Andrew Greco, 4, and Jennifer Harms, 4, on March 2, at Sunnyvale Fire Station #2.
Sunnyvale honors NY fireman
Residents and city express gratitude
By Jana Seshadri
It's widely believed that no words or actions can adequately express the appreciation felt by millions of people across the country for the New York firefighters' heroic actions during and after the Sept. 11 tragedy. But that did not deter the American cities from showing their gratitude to these brave individuals.
Based on an idea generated at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., earlier this year, about 300 mayors across the country, including Fred Fowler of Sunnyvale, participated in the "Cities Unite America and Thank New York Firefighters" during the weekend of March 1-3.
New York firefighter Robert "Bob" Schneider from Engine Company #201 in Brooklyn and his wife, Lynn, were Sunnyvale's guests for the weekend.
"I am honored to welcome Bob--a New York hero--to Sunnyvale," Fowler said at a Meet the Media event on March 1, cosponsored by the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce.
Suzi Blackman, president and CEO of the Chamber, presented a plaque of appreciation to Schneider.
Schneider, 49, a firefighter for more than 20 years at the Sunset Park fire station, recounted the harrowing tales of loss and grief in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers.
"The New York fire department lost 343 members that day, while rescuing more than 20,000 people--the single largest rescue undertaking in the country," Schneider said. "And we lost four members--all in their mid-30s--from our station."
Both Bob and Lynn said the horrific attacks became a life-changing, unifying event for the people of New York.
"I've been a firefighter for more than 20 years and was thinking of retirement," Bob, 49, said. "But now I'm going to stay with the department and help with the city's rebuilding efforts."
Whereas in the past, New Yorkers wouldn't give two hoots about being polite to a stranger, they actually give a tourist the time of day now, Lynn said.
"I knew people who were in one of the towers during the attacks but were able to get out in time," Lynn said. "One of my friends actually spent that night in a stranger's house in New Jersey, and that would never have happened before Sept. 11."
As terrible as those attacks were, Bob said it's time to move on, and he and Lynn said they were ready to have fun in Sunnyvale.
The activity-packed and fun-filled weekend was organized by the Sunnyvale City Council's Ad Hoc committee, which includes Fowler, Sunnyvale Vice Mayor Julia Miller and Councilman John Howe.
"Everyone pitched in at such short notice and did a wonderful job," Miller said. "We got a lot of help and support from Amy Chan (assistant city manager) and Ernie Bakin (chief of public safety)."
Photograph by Doug Rider
Robert Schneider, a New York firefighter from Engine Company 201 of Brooklyn, New York, and his wife, Lynn, sing 'God Bless America'after they were treated to a pancake breakfast March 2 at Sunnyvale Fire Station #2.
The festivities included a welcome reception by the mayor and city council; a community pancake breakfast for the public to meet the firefighter; a flag-raising ceremony; a sightseeing tour of historic Sunnyvale; a tour of NASA/AMES at Moffett Field; tours of Sunnyvale City Hall and the Public Safety Department; and dinners on both nights.
A banquet on Monday night in Oakland brought together all the 16 visiting firefighters, said Steve Fisk, aerial instructor and president of the Public Safety Officers Association. Los Gatos and Santa Clara were the other two South Bay cities that hosted a New York firefighter that weekend, Fowler said.
Different community groups sponsored the different events throughout the weekend, and several airline companies donated free tickets for the firefighters and their guests to fly out to the cities from New York, said Linda Bagneschi, communications officer for Sunnyvale.
More than 500 people--some of them wearing "I love NY" T-shirts and sweatshirts--attended the pancake breakfast, sponsored by the officers association on the sunny, springlike morning of March 2 at Fire Station #2 to meet and thank Schneider. The city-suggested donation of $5 per adult and $3 per child got people a meal of pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee. The event brought in $2,300, which went toward different charities to assist New York's public safety survivors and families of victims.
"I feel like a film star," Schneider said as he signed autographs.
Besides meeting the Schneiders, families were able to tour the tower, take rides in the fire engines, learn from public safety demonstrations and visit the information booths displaying city services.
"This is a very nice thing that the city is doing," said Margaret Jungling, a resident of Sunnyvale since 1956, from the Gavello Glen Neighborhood Association.
A flag that flew on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 11--the five month anniversary of the attacks--was raised at Sunnyvale Fire Station #2 and will remain as a ceremonial flag in a case at the public safety headquarters, said Lt. Steve Drewniany of Public Safety.
"We bought the flag and, through Cmder. John Baca of the U.S. Navy, had it raised at the Pentagon on Feb. 11 for a few minutes," Drewniany said.
"We don't do enough to celebrate our heroes," said Sunnyvale City Manager Robert LaSala, lauding the cities for their efforts.
The historic Del Monte Building was the venue for the community dinner on the night of March 2, which featured tributes and speeches and entertainment by Pastoria Avenue Jazz Band, as well as food.
The outpouring of community support was evident by the amounts raised and donated that night, Bagneschi said. The Sunnyvale Public Safety Department employees, families and friends presented a check for $20,000 to the New York Police and Firefighters' Widows and Children Benefit Fund; Trident Microsystems presented a check for $68,000 to the 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund. The $2,500 collected at the door that night went to the New York Fire Department Engine Company 201--Schneider's fire station.
"It's an honor to be recognized by people on the West Coast for something that happened 3,000 miles away," Schneider said.
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
