Troy gathers to remember 9/11 and its firefighters who answered the call

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Troy is more than 150 miles away from New York City – but like for so many New Yorkers, the tragedy hitting very close to home, especially for the 20 Troy Firefighters who traveled to Ground Zero in the days following the attacks.

Gathering around Troy’s memorial site – they shared stories of how the smell of the fire and toxins in the air are something they will never forget.

Retired Assistant Chief James Hughes from the Troy Fire Department was among them, who is still suffering from health issues from responding to the site. 

“I personally know four people that have had an aggressive prostate cancer from 9/11. Two of them have died. The other two are okay for now. I am one of them,” said Hughes.

Because of the brave actions like Chief Hughes, they were given a certificate commending their selflessness.

“These are men who carry the weight of our city with them as they worked alongside brothers and sisters in uniform across the nation,” said Mayor Carmella Mantello.

A message of unity also shined through the ceremony. Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault shared a story from the days after the attack about how the country came together. 

“I remember a gentleman was a good 30, 40 steps in front of me, and he sat there, and he held the door for me, and he waited and made sure that he acknowledged and said hello to me. That was the day after,” said Bourgault. “And that happened for days and weeks and even months following 9/11. “[9/11] was the unity we had as a nation. We have gotten far too away from that.”

The ceremony concluded with a final prayer and salute.

Officials said they plan to do more for this memorial site for next year’s ceremony such as adding a flagpole and a paved walkway leading up to it because it’s a day people will remember for generations to come.