Season Purcell / Scroll Photo Illustration

Firefighters join forces to clean-up

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Firefighters from New York, New Orleans and departments elsewhere gathered Sunday in this city wrecked by a hurricane and flooding to remember those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks four years ago.

“Never Forget. 343. FD 9-11 NY,” read the makeshift memorial at Our Lady of Holy Cross College in the Algiers neighborhood, which was spared the worst of the wreckage and flooding.

Michael Weinlein, assistant chief of operations for the FDNY, said he was happy to be able to help New Orleans firefighters the way they helped in the wake of 9-11.

“Only those who have experienced tragedy can understand the look in the eyes of the New Orleans firefighters when we arrived. We feel your pain and frustration, but I promise you, from personal experience, you will heal,” he said.

The Montgomery County, Md., Fire Department gave New York firefighters a flag that flew over the Pentagon during search and rescue operations after the terrorist attacks. It has now been signed by members of the New Orleans Fire Department.

New York firefighter Eddie D’Avanzo said coming to New Orleans to help was the right thing to do.

“They helped us out, and I felt like I would not want to be any other place than here helping,” D’Avanzo said.