16 September, 2026
News & Articles

Basildon firefighter marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 with FDNY colleagues

Tom Kendle

A Basildon firefighter marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks alongside firefighters in New York, two years after helping to create a memorial garden containing steel recovered from the World Trade Center.

Firefighter Tom Kendle, from Basildon Fire Station, visited Fire Department New York (FDNY) Rescue Company 1 in Manhattan before attending the anniversary memorial service on 11 September.

The visit followed a friendship which began while Tom and colleagues were developing the Memorial and Wellbeing Garden at Basildon Fire Station.

Tom said: “Like most things at a fire station, it started as a conversation around the mess table.

“We had an unused concrete courtyard and started talking about creating somewhere meaningful to remember firefighters we have lost from Basildon over the years.

“We wanted somewhere their families could visit and pay their respects, but also a quiet space where serving firefighters could go if they needed time to reflect.”

Tom also wanted the garden to remember the 343 members of the New York City Fire Department who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, as well as those who have since died from illnesses linked to their work at the World Trade Center.

After contacting members and former members of FDNY, Tom was introduced to retired firefighter Carl Scheetz.

Carl served with FDNY for 30 years, including 10 years with Rescue Company 1, and responded to the September 11 attacks.

Tom and Carl worked together to bring a piece of steel recovered from the World Trade Center to Basildon, where it now forms part of the memorial garden.

The garden was officially opened on 22 October 2024, with Carl travelling to Essex to join firefighters from Basildon and those involved in creating the garden.

Tom and Carl remained in contact and became close friends, with Carl returning to the UK several times.

For the 25th anniversary, Tom travelled to New York to visit Carl and his family and spent time with firefighters at Rescue 1.

Eleven members of Rescue 1 responded to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. All 11 lost their lives when the North Tower collapsed.

Tom visited the Rescue 1 firehouse on 10 September and returned the following morning before travelling to the 9/11 Memorial for the anniversary service.

He later visited another FDNY firehouse in the Bronx, known as the Gun Hill Gang.

Tom said: “Having the steel at Basildon gives us a permanent connection with the firefighters who lost their lives that day and with those who have died since.

“To have the opportunity to be in New York for the 25th anniversary, spend time with Rescue 1 and pay my respects at the memorial meant a great deal to me.”

The Memorial and Wellbeing Garden at Basildon Fire Station remains a place for firefighters and the families of those remembered there to pause, reflect and remember.