Nassau County honors fallen firefighters with expanded 9/11 memorial
An expanded memorial in Eisenhower Park now honors 56 Nassau County firefighters who died on 9/11 or from related illnesses, preserving the legacy of those who answered the call.
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A renewed memorial in Eisenhower Park is preserving the memory of Nassau County firefighters who died on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as those who later died from illnesses connected to their work at ground zero.
The rededicated firefighter plaza now features the names of 56 Nassau County firefighters who died on 9/11 or from 9/11-related illnesses. Seven names were added to the memorial this year.
“This memorial of stone and granite will provide a means for all generations in the future to remember them and keep them alive,” said Vice Chairman of the Nassau County Fire Commission Carey Welt.
Among those honored was Keith Fairben, a volunteer with the Floral Park Fire Department who was working in New York City when the attacks happened.
Fairben's father, Kenneth , remembers speaking with his son that morning.
“I spoke to Keith around 9 a.m. He said, ‘Dad, I can't talk to you. I'm down here, it is crazy.’ I said, ‘It's OK. Be careful and I'll see you tonight at dinner.’ ‘OK, Dad.’ And that's the last time I spoke to my son,” Kenneth Fairben said.
For Fairben's family, the memorial provides another place to remember Keith and reflect on the day that changed so many lives.
“Whenever we have something to do with 9/11, a memorial, something like that, the kid always rains on us. So he's looking down and he's laughing about this,” Kenneth Fairben said.
The memorial also recognizes Nassau County firefighters and first responders who survived the attacks but later died from illnesses linked to their time at ground zero.
One of those firefighters is Donald Ellison, who spent 50 years with the Glen Cove Fire Department. Ellison responded to the World Trade Center as an EMT following the attacks. He died in 2020 after battling cancer.
His son, James Ellison, said his father was deeply loved by his family and community.
“He was just the greatest guy in the world. We miss him, we love him. It was a great honor they put his name on the wall for us today,” Ellison said.
For the Ellison family, seeing Donald Ellison's name included on the memorial is a reminder of the lasting impact of his service.
“It shows that people still remember what happened 25 years ago. Their names on this wall will never be forgotten by those who come out and see it,” James Ellison said.
