A retired New York City Firefighter who was part of the rescue efforts on September 11, 2001 and the weeks that followed was in Ohio today this weekend.
At a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse, Lieutenant Tony Mussorfiti explained how many rescuers were lost in New York City as a result of the terrorist actions on 9-11.
"A firefighter from every rank was lost that day," said Mussorfiti. "Our probationary school had graduated on Friday....seven of the firefighters, they were killed that day. It was probably the first incident they ever responded to."
Mussorfiti says losses spanned many ranks, ranging from recruits to the chief of the department and the assistant commissioner, who had 45 years of experience.
"220 fire houses in the City of New York, and 23-percent of them suffered losses. My fire house in Queens suffered the greatest losses. Of the 22 (firefighters) that responded, 19 were lost."
Mussorfiti says he was supposed to be off work that day but when he heard what had happened, he went out to help in the rescue efforts.