The National September 11 Memorial Foundation has informed Michael Burke and other families of FDNY fire fighters killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks that ranks and affiliation will not be included on the Memorial Wall in New York City because New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, chair of the Memorial Foundation Board, believes such distinctions will cause visitors to mourn the death of the plane's captain or a fire captain more than the death of the plane's passengers or the civilian the fire fighter was trying to rescue.

"This is a disgrace," says IAFF 1st District Vice President Kevin Gallagher. "To not honor our fallen brothers with their rank is wrong. We cannot let their sacrifice go without the proper recognition for the courageous acts they performed."

Burke's brother, William F. Burke Jr., was a captain in Engine Co. 21. Michael requested to meet with the board about the decision to omit ranks and was told no. "This is a public entity supported by public funds. I am the voice of a guy who gave his life on 9/11, but I cannot meet with the board," writes Burke in his message, "Denying My Brother's Identity" posted on the FDNY web site. "I don’t know where any of them were on September 11."

The IAFF is encouraging members to send a loud and clear message to Mayor Bloomberg and the National September 11 Memorial and Museum Foundation that listing the rank and company affiliation of FDNY fire fighters who gave their lives that dark day is about honoring them and that disallowing it is inexcusable.

The sample letter below can be copied, pasted and sent to Mayor Bloomberg at joe@national911memorial.org. Please copy eNews@theBravest.com  or ranksmatter@hotmail.com for their records. National September 11 Memorial Museum CEO Joe Daniels can also be reached by phone at (212) 312-8800 or by FAX at (212) 227-7931.

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Why aren't the ranks of those killed in the 9/11 terrorists attacks being included on the memorial wall at the National September 11th Memorial in
New York City?

We are told it is because the Memorial Foundation Board, chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, believes these distinctions would cause visitors to mourn the death of the plane's captain or a fire captain more than the death of the plane's passengers or the civilian the fire fighter was
trying to rescue.

To Mayor Bloomberg and the Board, we say that is not only wrong it is insulting. It is not Mayor Bloomberg's nor the Foundation Board's place to dictate to America what visitors should know of 9/11 when they visit the World Trade Center site in order to control what they should think and feel. It is only our place at this historic place to recognize what happened here, to faithfully preserve and convey the meaning, magnitude and impact of the attacks and confront the evil that men are capable of and the destruction and the death they cause and, in response, the sacrifice.

The memorial must speak to future generations as equally as it does to us. As such, the 406 first responders at the World Trade Center, the military personal at the Pentagon and the flight crews who died in service to their city, their country and humanity on 9/11 must be identified by the rank they earned with
their lives.

The world is coming to the site for 9/11, not a lesson in contemporary notions of political correctness from Mayor Bloomberg and anonymous board members. History demands it; honor demands it and we demand it.

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