Bracelet
Photo credit: Michael Hnatov
Accession Number: C.2012.254.1
Dimensions: 0.5 in X 2 in X 2.5 in
Dimensions (Metric): 1.27 cm X 5.08 cm X 6.35 cm
Dimensions (Metric): 1.27 cm X 5.08 cm X 6.35 cm
Source: Madeline Bergin
Credit Line: Gift of Rescue 5 Widows
Description
Metal memorial bracelet created in memory of the eleven Rescue 5 members lost on 9/11, John P. Bergin, Carl Vincent Bini, Michael C. Fiore, Andre G. Fletcher, Harvey L. Harrell, Joseph A. Mascali, Douglas C. Miller, Louis Joseph Modafferi, Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, Nicholas P. Rossomando, and Allan Tarasiewicz. The bracelet is engraved: "Capt. L. Modafferi - LT. H. Harrell - FF J. Bergin - FF C. Bini - FF.M. Fiore - FF A. Fletcher - FF J. Mascali - FF D. Miller - FF J. Palazzo - FF. N. Rossomando - FF. A. Tarasiewicz." On the left is a small American flag with text: "FDNY/9-11-01." On the right is the Rescue 5 logo Maltese cross with printed text: "Res5cue."
Metal memorial bracelet created in memory of the eleven Rescue 5 members lost on 9/11, John P. Bergin, Carl Vincent Bini, Michael C. Fiore, Andre G. Fletcher, Harvey L. Harrell, Joseph A. Mascali, Douglas C. Miller, Louis Joseph Modafferi, Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, Nicholas P. Rossomando, and Allan Tarasiewicz. The bracelet is engraved: "Capt. L. Modafferi - LT. H. Harrell - FF J. Bergin - FF C. Bini - FF.M. Fiore - FF A. Fletcher - FF J. Mascali - FF D. Miller - FF J. Palazzo - FF. N. Rossomando - FF. A. Tarasiewicz." On the left is a small American flag with text: "FDNY/9-11-01." On the right is the Rescue 5 logo Maltese cross with printed text: "Res5cue."
Historical Notes
A lifelong Staten Island resident, John Bergin lived with his wife, Madeline, and their three children in New Dorp. Thinking of his retirement in two years, John, a firefighter with FDNY Rescue Company 5, had invested in a local bar in June 2001 and was in the process of renovating it with his business partner. On September 11, Firefighter Bergin responded to the World Trade Center. He was 39 years old.
Born in Brooklyn, Carl Bini lived on Staten Island with his wife, Christine, and their two daughters. He spoke of retiring in 2003 from FDNY Rescue Company 5 and working at the construction company he co-owned with fellow firefighter Joseph Mascali. On September 11, Carl and Joseph were off duty in Staten Island when they learned of the attacks and headed for the towers. Firefighter Bini was 44 years old.
Newark, New Jersey, native Michael Fiore lived on Staten Island with his wife, Charlene, and their three children. He coached local basketball teams, played in several basketball leagues, and had traveled internationally with the FDNY’s all-star basketball team. On September 11, Firefighter Fiore responded to the World Trade Center with Rescue Company 5. He was 46 years old.
Andre Fletcher grew up in Brooklyn and lived in North Babylon, Long Island. He had a school-age son. A firefighter since college, Andre was a member of FDNY Rescue Company 5. He founded the FDNY’s baseball team and played wide receiver and defensive back on its football team. On September 11, Firefighter Fletcher responded to the towers and was seen aiding evacuees. He was 37 years old.
Harvey Harrell was a Staten Island native and resident whose pastimes included gardening with his wife, Rachel, and coaching their two daughters at softball. Harvey and his brother Stephen Harrell both were FDNY firefighters. Harvey was a lieutenant with Rescue Company 5. On September 11, both brothers responded to the World Trade Center, where they perished. Stephen was 44 years old. Harvey was 49.
Brooklyn-born Joseph Mascali lived in New Dorp, Staten Island, with his wife, Lori, and their three children. Joseph took his children camping and golfing. He owned a construction company with Carl Bini, a coworker at the FDNY’s Rescue Company 5. On September 11, Carl and Joseph were off duty. When they learned of the attacks, they headed to the towers. Firefighter Mascali was 44 years old.
Brooklyn native Douglas Miller met his future wife, Laurie, when he was 15. They married seven years later, had three daughters, and lived in Port Jervis, New York. Douglas was a firefighter with FDNY Rescue Company 5 and chief of a local volunteer fire department. He also worked part time as an electrician. On September 11, Firefighter Miller responded to the World Trade Center. He was 34 years old.
Louis Modafferi was born in Brooklyn and lived in Great Kills on Staten Island with his wife, Joanne, and their three children. He regularly played softball with childhood friends. The captain of FDNY Rescue Company 5, he also held a position on a Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster response team. Captain Modafferi reported to the towers with his FDNY unit on September 11. He was 45 years old.
Brooklyn native Jeffrey Palazzo lived in New Dorp on Staten Island with his wife, Lisa, and their two daughters. He was a hunter and outdoorsman and often went camping and scuba diving with his family. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran who remained in the service’s reserves, Jeffrey joined the FDNY in 1996. On September 11, Firefighter Palazzo reported to the towers with Rescue Company 5. He was 33 years old.
Brooklyn native Nicholas Rossomando lived in Westerleigh, Staten Island. He was skilled at carpentry and karate—interests he combined by renovating the karate school where he trained. He also enjoyed cooking for his girlfriend, Tammi, her son, and coworkers at FDNY Rescue Company 5. On September 11, Firefighter Rossomando had finished his shift but reported to the towers with his unit. He was 35 years old.
Allan Tarasiewicz served in the U.S. Marines in Italy, where he met his wife, Patricia. He worked as a metal worker in California and a miner in Colorado before settling in his native Midland Beach, Staten Island, with Patricia and their two children. Allan became an FDNY firefighter and, in 1996, joined Rescue Company 5. On September 11, Firefighter Tarasiewicz responded to the towers. He was 45 years old.
A lifelong Staten Island resident, John Bergin lived with his wife, Madeline, and their three children in New Dorp. Thinking of his retirement in two years, John, a firefighter with FDNY Rescue Company 5, had invested in a local bar in June 2001 and was in the process of renovating it with his business partner. On September 11, Firefighter Bergin responded to the World Trade Center. He was 39 years old.
Born in Brooklyn, Carl Bini lived on Staten Island with his wife, Christine, and their two daughters. He spoke of retiring in 2003 from FDNY Rescue Company 5 and working at the construction company he co-owned with fellow firefighter Joseph Mascali. On September 11, Carl and Joseph were off duty in Staten Island when they learned of the attacks and headed for the towers. Firefighter Bini was 44 years old.
Newark, New Jersey, native Michael Fiore lived on Staten Island with his wife, Charlene, and their three children. He coached local basketball teams, played in several basketball leagues, and had traveled internationally with the FDNY’s all-star basketball team. On September 11, Firefighter Fiore responded to the World Trade Center with Rescue Company 5. He was 46 years old.
Andre Fletcher grew up in Brooklyn and lived in North Babylon, Long Island. He had a school-age son. A firefighter since college, Andre was a member of FDNY Rescue Company 5. He founded the FDNY’s baseball team and played wide receiver and defensive back on its football team. On September 11, Firefighter Fletcher responded to the towers and was seen aiding evacuees. He was 37 years old.
Harvey Harrell was a Staten Island native and resident whose pastimes included gardening with his wife, Rachel, and coaching their two daughters at softball. Harvey and his brother Stephen Harrell both were FDNY firefighters. Harvey was a lieutenant with Rescue Company 5. On September 11, both brothers responded to the World Trade Center, where they perished. Stephen was 44 years old. Harvey was 49.
Brooklyn-born Joseph Mascali lived in New Dorp, Staten Island, with his wife, Lori, and their three children. Joseph took his children camping and golfing. He owned a construction company with Carl Bini, a coworker at the FDNY’s Rescue Company 5. On September 11, Carl and Joseph were off duty. When they learned of the attacks, they headed to the towers. Firefighter Mascali was 44 years old.
Brooklyn native Douglas Miller met his future wife, Laurie, when he was 15. They married seven years later, had three daughters, and lived in Port Jervis, New York. Douglas was a firefighter with FDNY Rescue Company 5 and chief of a local volunteer fire department. He also worked part time as an electrician. On September 11, Firefighter Miller responded to the World Trade Center. He was 34 years old.
Louis Modafferi was born in Brooklyn and lived in Great Kills on Staten Island with his wife, Joanne, and their three children. He regularly played softball with childhood friends. The captain of FDNY Rescue Company 5, he also held a position on a Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster response team. Captain Modafferi reported to the towers with his FDNY unit on September 11. He was 45 years old.
Brooklyn native Jeffrey Palazzo lived in New Dorp on Staten Island with his wife, Lisa, and their two daughters. He was a hunter and outdoorsman and often went camping and scuba diving with his family. A U.S. Coast Guard veteran who remained in the service’s reserves, Jeffrey joined the FDNY in 1996. On September 11, Firefighter Palazzo reported to the towers with Rescue Company 5. He was 33 years old.
Brooklyn native Nicholas Rossomando lived in Westerleigh, Staten Island. He was skilled at carpentry and karate—interests he combined by renovating the karate school where he trained. He also enjoyed cooking for his girlfriend, Tammi, her son, and coworkers at FDNY Rescue Company 5. On September 11, Firefighter Rossomando had finished his shift but reported to the towers with his unit. He was 35 years old.
Allan Tarasiewicz served in the U.S. Marines in Italy, where he met his wife, Patricia. He worked as a metal worker in California and a miner in Colorado before settling in his native Midland Beach, Staten Island, with Patricia and their two children. Allan became an FDNY firefighter and, in 1996, joined Rescue Company 5. On September 11, Firefighter Tarasiewicz responded to the towers. He was 45 years old.
Curator's Comment
Building on a tradition begun during the Vietnam War era to remember American prisoners of war and those missing in action, bracelets bearing the names of victims emerged after 9/11 as a way to honor those killed in the attacks. Some bracelets also bear personal inscriptions and images, including the American flag, the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, and insignia reflecting a victim’s status as a first responder. Whether worn by relatives and friends of the victim or by empathetic strangers, 9/11 memorial bracelets created an intimate connection to individual victims while also communicating a shared sense of loss and compassion.
HIDE
Building on a tradition begun during the Vietnam War era to remember American prisoners of war and those missing in action, bracelets bearing the names of victims emerged after 9/11 as a way to honor those killed in the attacks. Some bracelets also bear personal inscriptions and images, including the American flag, the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, and insignia reflecting a victim’s status as a first responder. Whether worn by relatives and friends of the victim or by empathetic strangers, 9/11 memorial bracelets created an intimate connection to individual victims while also communicating a shared sense of loss and compassion.
HIDE
