Prayer Card
Photo credit: 9/11 Memorial staff
Accession Number: C.2020.72.2
Dimensions: 4.5 in X 2.5 in
Dimensions (Metric): 11.43 cm X 6.35 cm
Dimensions (Metric): 11.43 cm X 6.35 cm
Source: Bridget Gormley
Credit Line: Gift of Bridget Gormley
Keywords
Ground Zero
Health Effects
New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
Rescue and Recovery
World Trade Center: Dust
Ground Zero
Health Effects
New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
Rescue and Recovery
World Trade Center: Dust
Description
Prayer card created in memory of William J. Gormley. The front of the card includes a photograph of Gormley wearing his fire helmet. On the back of the card is printed text that reads: "In Loving Memory of | William J. Gormley | May 25, 1964 | June 14, 2017," followed by a prayer.
Prayer card created in memory of William J. Gormley. The front of the card includes a photograph of Gormley wearing his fire helmet. On the back of the card is printed text that reads: "In Loving Memory of | William J. Gormley | May 25, 1964 | June 14, 2017," followed by a prayer.
Historical Notes
On June 14, 2017, 53-year old William John Gormley, a retired New York City firefighter who participated in the rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero, died of lung and bladder cancer traced to toxins prevalent at the WTC site. He left behind a wife and four children, including his daughter Bridget, who became an advocate for 9/11 related health effects.
The Nike marathon shirt emblazoned with the word “Dust” was worn by a Gormley family friend, Brian Sherras, who annually ran in the New York City Marathon. The year that William Gormley died, Sherras chose to wear the shirt to commemorate Gormley and to “spread the word about 9/11 illnesses.”
Gormley represents one of the hundreds of uniformed first responders who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site and who, after a period of latency, developed debilitating illnesses and cancers tied to toxic exposures. Like Gormley, many have succumbed to these conditions.
On June 14, 2017, 53-year old William John Gormley, a retired New York City firefighter who participated in the rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero, died of lung and bladder cancer traced to toxins prevalent at the WTC site. He left behind a wife and four children, including his daughter Bridget, who became an advocate for 9/11 related health effects.
The Nike marathon shirt emblazoned with the word “Dust” was worn by a Gormley family friend, Brian Sherras, who annually ran in the New York City Marathon. The year that William Gormley died, Sherras chose to wear the shirt to commemorate Gormley and to “spread the word about 9/11 illnesses.”
Gormley represents one of the hundreds of uniformed first responders who participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site and who, after a period of latency, developed debilitating illnesses and cancers tied to toxic exposures. Like Gormley, many have succumbed to these conditions.
