To mark the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attack, the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department (LSFD) and City of Loveland are hosting a September 11 Memorial event. The event has several connections to the World Trade Center and New York City.
One of the event's special guest is retired FDNY Lieutenant Steve Mormino, who worked at the World Trade Center site with his Brooklyn fire company. So just how did a New York firefighter and LSFD connect?
Mormino met LSFD Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder at a firefighters’ conference, and the pair bonded over their New York roots. At the time, Loveland was planning its first 9-11 Memorial in 2002. Mormino and fellow FDNY firefighter Danny Bove were invited to attend the event. Unfortunately, since then, Bove succumbed to “9-11 Cancer” from inhaling debris and chemicals from working at the World Trade Center site.
"I will not pass up an opportunity to come visit," explained Mormino. “The Loveland community is incredible. My friends will ask me, ‘Why do you go to Ohio?’ It’s because they are the nicest people you will ever meet! It’s beautiful; it’s where I want to be.”
In fact, this is Mormino’s third time visiting Loveland to attend the city’s 9-11 Memorial event, which is held at the city's Firefighters' Memorial. This makes for another connection to that fateful day — a section of an I-beam from the North Tower of the World Trade Center was added to the Firefighters' Memorial. This donation was arranged by Firefighter Lee Lelpi (retired) from FDNY Rescue 2 and added in 2004.
Mormino is excited to return to Loveland for the 20th anniversary event and to help pay tribute to the lives lost that day.
“If there is one thing I want people to know, it just never goes away. We lost 257 [FDNY firefighters] that day. But now, due to 9-11 Cancer and the aftermath, we have lost 343 and the numbers are climbing,” he explained.
“Events like this help everyone remember the lives lost and sacrifices made. How fortunate I am to work a job of service to others!”
Event Details
Saturday, Sept. 11
5 p.m. Parade from the Loveland Elementary School (600 Loveland Madeira Road), turning onto West Loveland and heading through the downtown area
6 p.m. Memorial ceremony with guests at the Loveland Firefighters’ Memorial (200 Harrison Ave.)
7 p.m. Performance by the Tom Daughtery Orchestra at Nisbet Park