Sons Of Firefighter Killed On 9/11 Follow In Father's Footsteps
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- As the city prepares for 9/11 remembrances Thursday, one firehouse in Queens takes particular note.
The Squad 288/Hazmat 1 firehouse in Maspeth lost 18 members in the terrorist attacks, including Carol Gies' husband, 43-year-old Ronnie Gies.
"I hate tomorrow," Carol Gies told CBS 2's John Slattery on Wednesday. "From the minute I wake up in the morning till the minute I go to bed, because I overplay that day over and over and over in my head, exactly what happened that day."
Two of Gies' sons have carried on the tradition set by their father by becoming firefighters. A third brother is waiting to join.
"It's nice following in my father's footsteps," said son Ronnie Gies, a member of Ladder 175 in East New York who was 16 years old when the towers fell.
"It was something I always thought I wanted to do, and I think having my dad pass away on 9/11 really cemented it," he added.
But it's a constant worry for their mother as she thinks of 9/11.
"I never thought twice when Ronnie went to work," Carol Gies said, holding her grandchild. "Kissed him goodbye that morning. Said 'see you tonight.' Watched his car drive away. Never thought twice."
Her husband was one of 343 firefighters who gave their lives that terrible day.
For years now, the firehouse, only a few miles from Citi Field, has been adopted by the Mets.
Former catcher Mike Piazza embraced families of those lost. Now, the tradition continues with pitcher Dillon Gee, whose father is a firefighter in Fort Worth, Texas, and third baseman David Wright.
"When you come in every day and you look at this memorial and you see the memorial (at the firehouse), you can't help but to miss the brave men and women who gave their lives that day," Wright said.
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