May 5, 2011 in News, Nation/World

Obama visits NYC firehouse, police station

Associated Press

Tags:Ground ZeroObamaPresident Barack Obama

Picture story: Obama visits ground zero

NEW YORK — President Barack Obama visited a New York City firehouse that suffered grave losses on 9/11, then dropped in on a police station not far from the World Trade Center site before paying his respects Thursday at ground zero.

Obama arrived under tight security at the midtown Manhattan headquarters of Engine 54 and Ladder 4. Bronze memorial plaques hang in the garage honoring the 15 men of the two companies who died on 9/11, giving it the steepest losses of any firehouse in the city.

The president spent about 50 minutes in the building, sharing with the firefighters a meal of eggplant parmesan, mesclun salad and a shrimp and scallops dish.

He said he came to give thanks to the first responders who sacrificed so much on 9/11, and to pass along the message that the Navy Seals who killed Osama bin Laden did it, in part, in honor of the dead of the FDNY and NYPD.

“It was a wonderful gesture,” Chief of Department Edward Kilduff said after the visit.

Firefighter Joseph Ceravolo, who cooked the meal, said Bin Laden’s death was a “bittersweet” victory for a department that lost so much in the terror attacks. He said he was grateful for a chance to thank the president and the armed forces.

Afterward, Obama stopped at Manhattan’s First Precinct stationhouse, whose officers were among the first wave of responders to reach the trade center on 9/11.

For some of the officers, the week’s events were a somber reminder of the past — and a chance to move on.

“Every day is a memory of that day,” said Emergency Services Unit detective Steven Stefanako. “The difference now is we have an end, which means we can have a new beginning, a chance to move forward past this.”

16 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

johnclarke on May 05 at 5:38 p.m.
Tastefully done, Mr. President. Lunch sounded pretty tasty too.
misjustice on May 05 at 6:16 p.m.
Was this trip scheduled to visit with the fire/police departments BEFORE the OBL raid?
I highly doubt it.
So to me it’s just another photo opportunity on the heads of those that gave their lives in trying to protect fellow humanity……(not all were Americans that died that horrible day.)
This just shows, even more, Obama has no respect for the people…….just taking advantage of a photo opp for re-election! Sad……..
johnclarke on May 05 at 6:34 p.m.
Hey gramma, could you bite me? Thanks.
misjustice on May 05 at 6:46 p.m.
Careful, clarke, she may not be current on her shots!
The President, Barack Hussein Obama, is a class act. He didn’t make a speech or wear a cod piece, or hang a jinogistic banner claiming “mission accomplished”. He paid his respect to the first responders; unlike the regressives which denied the first responders medical care for their ailments linked to working at ground zero following 9-11, unless they got tax cuts for their rich cronies.
It makes me laugh when the regressives twist themselves into human pretzels, in their pathetic attempts to deny giving credit where credit is due; to the COMMANDER IN CHIEF, the 1/2 black dude, the brother with command of the most powerful military in the world.
You’d better believe that had the mission to get bin Laden failed that the same regressives currently denying him credit for the success would be blaming the president, Barack Hussein Obama, for the failure.
Just sayin’…
; )
Sweetfire on May 05 at 6:47 p.m.
Gramma, I would have to agree with you. Obummer is doing what he has to, and it sounds like it was tastefully done. But votes are VERY important to the people who control the puppet strings behind Obummer.
johnclarke…bite yourself…if you can reach it.
greenlibertarian on May 05 at 7:45 p.m.
Some people’s brains are quite badly broken.
Sad, really.
RaulBloodworth on May 05 at 8:03 p.m.
The funny thing is Bin Laden is still alive.
Arizonian on May 05 at 8:43 p.m.
Well said misjustice! President Obama is in charge. He deserves a lot of credit for giving the order and delivering on his vow to get Bin Laden. Bush had 8 years and couldn’t find him? In a country the size of New Jersey. Kind of strange. The conservative bigots can’t stand it that Obama has had success!
The biggest problem with this country is that it is so divided. If you say the sky is blue, they will say no, the sky is red. It’s ridiculous! I think maybe its time for me to head back to Amsterdam. The people in Europe are much more united than they are here. They wonder, “what is wrong with the so called United States”?
Ron_the_Cop on May 05 at 8:49 p.m.
Justy,
I gave props to Obama to be gutsy enough to see this mission through. However there is a side of me that says his decisiveness in this mission is uncharacteristic of his actions in the past.
Check this article out that is based on the Ulster Man’s former White House Insider. Of course the Ulster Man’s source may be a figment of his imagination. I’m just providing this for discussion. The actual mission went flawlessly. I would argue that after action handling by the White House politicos hasn’t gone so well:
CIA Director Panetta Ordered bin Laden Mission Because Obama Aide Jarrett Refused
http://www.uncoverage.net/2011/05/cia-director-panetta-ordered-bin-laden-mission-because-obama-aide-jarrett-refused/
Just saying :-)
crazyivan44 on May 05 at 9:00 p.m.
I’m just waiting for the final report…
johnclarke on May 05 at 9:21 p.m.
Ron, really. I would expect a little more from you. That link and story is lame.
Ron_the_Cop on May 05 at 10:02 p.m.
Johnclarke,
LOL - time will tell:-)
liberal_in_right_wing_land on May 05 at 10:36 p.m.
Republicans are just pissed because now they cannot claim they are the party thats tough on terrorism and national security. They are a dying breed, pretty obvious all the GOP is for is protecting the rich and their corporate masters.
Obama just sealed is re-election……can only hope this party is dumb enough to nominate Trump and then watch Obama knock that dead animal off his head.
Dazzeetrader11 on May 05 at 11:47 p.m.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/05/05/father_of_911_victim_obama_putting_too_much_spotlight_on_himself.html
Peacock boy…
Dazzeetrader11 on May 06 at 12:00 a.m.
Peacock ..and how he worked it:
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/obama-speech-bin-laden-staged_b34749#more-34749
You enthusiasts are just plain goofy…;)
Gramma’s got the right idea.
Dazzeetrader11 on May 06 at 12:13 a.m.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/3/outsider-hired-for-obama-speeches/?cache
Fake all the way.