THE FREEPORT BALDWIN LEADER, December 20, 2001

Mass Honors Baldwin Firefighter lost in World Trade Center

By JOAN DELANEY

The grief was palpable at the memorial mass held for New York City firefighter Brian G. McAleese at St. Christopher's Church on Friday, December 7. Mr. McAleese was the only firefighter from Baldwin killed at the World Trade Center on September 11, although ten other Baldwinites or close family members of those who live in Baldwin died that day. They include Richard Bruehart, Thomas Hobbs, James Kelly, Joel Miller, Joseph Coppo, Edward Geraghty, Thomas Kelly, Alvin Berghsohn, David Weiss and Terrence Manning, who were all mourned at the community's evening of prayer in September.

Because Mr. McAleese died in the line of duty, his services included traditional fire department rituals - the mournful bagpipes, an official motorcade and attendance by scores of fire officials and hundreds of firefighters from New York City and surrounding communities. Also present were New York City Mayor Rudolph Guiliani and former Governor Hugh Carey, representing Governor George Pataki, Congressman Peter King and County Legislator Joseph Scannell.

Mr. McAleese was eulogized by his brothers Kevin and John and his wife Dawn and was described as a "fine and honorable man," one who lived life to the fullest, a caring father, husband, son and friend, someone who looked for ways to help others. The family selected a gospel reading that described the apostles' fishing to illustrate Mr. McAleese's love of fishing which was used as a metaphor in the sermon given by Monsignor John Bennett.

Mrs. McAleese, voice breaking in profound sorrow, said, "There's a lesson to be learned from this…there are a lot of lessons to be learned from this…" and cautioned the church filled with firefighters and friends to cherish each day and take advantage of each moment.

Mayor Guiliani, who has attended so many of these funerals, compared the terrorism of September 11 to that of Pearl Harbor on this 60th anniversary of the attack. He said, "Pearl Harbor woke the nation to threats and we found ourselves embroiled in a world war with people who wanted to extinguish our way of life with their fanatic ideologies."

He described September 11 as a "loss of more lives…on an entirely civilian population," and said we were enmeshed in a "new war requiring the same valor as World War II."

He described Firefighter McAleese as "a career member of a proud firehouse that lost three firemen…held in high esteem, talented and aggressive, an experienced firehouse chef." He described Brian as working "in the family business," referring to his late father Jack and brother John, both firefighters, as well as another brother Kevin, who is a policeman. "He brought the reputation of your family to new heights."

He was described as "a hero in his home and a volunteer for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, " the disease which claimed his father's life.

The mayor called the firefighters' actions "a rescue mission, a response that turned the city around in a few hours…The terrorists thought to destroy us…thought that we were soft people because we are a successful land."

With a firm voice the mayor added, "In this generation we are brave enough to defend our country. There is a new patriotism."

He then turned to the McAleese children, Jack, Liam, Brianne, and Aidan, and said that while they might not understand what he was saying, he hoped that people would tell them, when they are older, that "We are all in your debt. Nobody can take your Daddy from you because he helped to make you. All those qualities which were in your Daddy are in you."

He promised that the children would never be alone and said that they would have what many people did not have, "The sure knowledge that your Daddy was a great man, an American hero, a patriot."