Firehouse renamed for WTC hero

[SeaBreeze]

Firehouse renamed for WTC hero

By JULIENNE MARSHALL
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: April 14, 2003)


POMONA — With bagpipers playing the familiar and haunting strains of "Amazing Grace," firefighters and veteran Marines standing guard, and the bright red firetrucks of the Hillcrest Fire District gleaming in the morning sunlight, more than 200 people paid tribute yesterday to a fallen hero of the World Trade Center disaster.

Gregory Sikorsky was remembered in a loving ceremony as Hillcrest Fire Company No. 1 was renamed for him. A banner was taken down to reveal the words, "Gregory Sikorsky Station."

Sikorsky was a 16-year volunteer firefighter for Hillcrest, an ex-Marine and a member of the New York City Fire Department's Rescue Squad 41 in the Bronx, on Sept. 11, 2001, when the search and rescue call went out.

Sikorsky was 34 when he lost his life. He had been in the FDNY for five years, and was studying to be a lieutenant.

"It is the heroism of men and women like Gregory Sikorsky who have made our nation what it is today. Their names will be forever linked to a moment in history," said Peter Carney, a longtime member and trustee of the Hillcrest Fire Department. "We rededicate this firehouse so we'll never forget."

Sikorsky had helped plan this particular firehouse, about six years ago, because the area "is remote from many firehouses," said Gordon Wren, county fire coordinator. Two other firehouses are in the district.

"Today is another good day in my life," said George Sikorsky Sr. with tears in his eyes. "The weather has been bad all year, but every time we have something for Gregory, the sun is shining. He's above here, looking over us.

"He was a great firefighter, a Marine, everything a fellow would want," the father said. "He had a great life in the short term. He did his duty to his country. If he came back, he'd do the same thing over again."

Sikorsky is also survived by his wife, Marie; his son, Steven; his mother, Luzia; and three brothers, Perry, George Jr., and Ken.

The family runs the Texaco station on Route 306 in Wesley Hills.

Sikorsky had been activated in Operation Desert Storm, but that war ended just before he was supposed to go overseas, Sikorsky's father said.

"If Greg was here now, he'd be embarrassingly honored," said Sikorsky's brother, Perry. He remembered his brother getting up at 3 in the morning, when it was 10 degrees outside, to do his duty as a volunteer firefighter.

Perry Sikorsky pointed out the 1939 Mack pumper that his brother had started restoring and that the community pitched in to nearly finish after his death. The truck now belongs to Steven.

Yesterday, Steven Sikorsky was playing happily on the truck, which bears his dad's badge number, "In memory of 6786, 9-11-01, Gregory Sikorsky."

"He was always looking for more in his life," Perry Sikorksy said of his brother.

Sikorsky had transferred to Squad 41 because they "do more search and rescue," his brother explained.

Ken Borden was chief of the busy Hillcrest Fire District when Sikorsky died.

"All I can say about Greg Sikorsky is that when other people have 24 hours in a day, he had 27. He was a scuba diver, a parachutist. He couldn't be idle," Borden said. "He was an amazing guy. On Sept. 11, he was going up there to rescue as many people as he could."

Capt. Bryan Violetto of Tappan, a member of Engine 46 in the Bronx, described what was called the rotation, a program that enabled firefighters to go from one firehouse to another, acquiring skills. Sikorsky worked in engines 46 and 47 and Ladder 50. He eventually transferred to Squad 41.

"I knew him in engine 46 and 47," Violetto said. "He was a stand-up guy. If something had to be done, he did it right. He always wanted to train and learn new things."

Engine 46 donated a plaque that will be permanently fixed on the grounds of the firehouse.

A large group of firefighters came to the ceremony from Squad 41, which lost six men on Sept. 11.

"Greg was at 41 for over a year. He was a fireman's fireman. You felt safe working around him, proud to work with him. He was a professional in every way," said Joe Beltrani of Hauppauge, Long Island.

"Events like today ensure that people won't forget what he did that day. Greg was a Marine. He protected the people of this country and the people of New York when he was a fireman. It sounds corny, but he really believed in the Constitution and peoples' rights."


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