Authors, family and admirers of FDNY Chief William Feehan gathered at the American Irish Historical Society to discuss the first responders on Sept 11, 2001, Brian McDonald's book "Five Floors Up" and the documentary "Chief: The Story of Bill Feehan, the Oldest and Highest Ranking Firefighter Killed on 9/11".
Twenty-three years after the attacks on the World Trade Center an evening of discussion and admiration for the FDNY and Chief William M. Feehan in the Upper East Side of Manhattan at the American Irish Historical Society. Members of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Band opened the program.
Chief Feehan was the oldest serving firefighter to respond to the attacks on 9/11. He perished at Ground Zero. He was the second-highest-ranking firefighter killed. He was the only firefighter in the FDNY who held every rank during his career.
Author Brian McDonald was there to discuss his book "Five Floors Up: The Heroic Family Story of Four Generations in the FDNY" and the legacy of the Feehan family story on the city's fire department.
McDonald's book "Five Floors Up" tells the tale of a firefighter family of four generations. The story of the modern New York City Fire Department, from the days just after the horse-drawn firetruck to the devastation of the 1970s when the Bronx was burning right up to the unspeakable tragedy of 9/11, to the culture-busting department of today. At every step a Feehan has worn the shoulder patch of the FDNY.
The tale shines the spotlight on the career of William M. Feehan. Chief Feehan rose to become New York City’s 28th Fire Commissioner.
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The book at its root is an intimate look at a firefighter clan, the selflessness and bravery of not only those who face the flames but the family members who stand by their sides. Alternately humorous and harrowing, rich with anecdotes and meticulously researched and reported, "Five Floors Up" takes us inside a world few truly understand, documenting an era that is quickly passing us by.
Also discussed on the evening was the short documentary "Chief: The Story of Bill Feehan, the Oldest and Highest Ranking Firefighter Killed on 9/11" directed by Robert Maass and Harvey Wang Executive and produced by Beth Feehan and Eddie Rosenstein.
The documentary shines a light on Chief Feehan's 40-plus-year career that left its mark on those he served and worked with. It includes biographic details such as the fact that grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, the son of a firefighter, and joined the FDNY in 1959 himself after serving in the Army during the Korean War.
To quote his son-in-law, FDNY Battalion Chief Brian Davan: "He died as a fireman commanding the biggest fire to ever happen in New York City. And that's what he would've wanted."
You can watch the full documentary "Chief" here:
The American Irish Historical Society
The American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) in New York is an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history and culture of the Irish in America. Founded in 1897, it serves as a cultural and historical repository, offering resources, exhibits, and events that highlight the contributions of Irish Americans to the United States.
For more information on the AIHS and its upcoming events, visit AIHSNY.org.
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