FDNY firefighters who were at Ground Zero on 9/11 to speak at Oshkosh’s EAA Aviation Museum

Brandon Reid, Oshkosh Northwestern
·2 min read

OSHKOSH – Sept. 11 marks 22 years since 2,977 people lost their lives in the deadliest terrorist attacks in U.S. history.

To mark the anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, three longtime New York City firefighters who worked at Ground Zero during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks will be featured speakers at the EAA Aviation Museum’s annual 9/11 memorial presentation at 7 p.m. Sept. 11, in the museum’s Eagle Hangar.

The three FDNY firefighters — Matt Nelson, Charles Blaich and Steven San Filippo — were veteran members of the department who were on duty on 9/11. They also participated in the weeks of cleanup that occurred following the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Rescue workers continue their search as smoke rises from the rubble of the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Rescue workers continue their search as smoke rises from the rubble of the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The EAA Aviation Museum said in a news release the firefighters’ stories include the heroism and the human cost of those attacks, including 343 members of the fire department who were lost. Their appearance at EAA is endorsed by the New York City Fire Department.

In previous programs, EAA has featured a diverse group of individuals ranging from military pilots to air traffic controllers who were part of the collective response to the 9/11 attacks.

Rescue crews congregate near a U.S. flag amidst the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York in this September 13, 2001 file photo. September 11th marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks where nearly 3,000 people died when four hijacked airliners were used in coordinated strikes on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers. The fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania.

EAA said the purpose of the annual 9/11 program is to highlight the heroism on display by thousands of people on that day and immediately afterward.

The Sept. 11 presentation is open to everyone. Admission is free to EAA members as well as active military members, law enforcement/public safety personnel and first responders. Admission is $5 for all others.

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The EAA Aviation Museum is off Interstate 41 at the Highway 44 exit in Oshkosh. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EAA members receive free admission year-round. For more details, call the EAA Aviation Museum at 920-426-4818 or visit www.EAA.org/museum.

Contact Brandon Reid at 920-686-2984 or breid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @breidHTRNews.

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: FDNY firefighters who were at 9/11 to speak in Oshkosh at EAA Museum