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by the son of the highest ranking officer killed on September 11, 2001. NY1's Amanda Farinacci filed this report.
Only days before the fourth anniversary of 9/11, Probationary Firefighter and class valedictorian Christopher Ganci gave a speech his father would be proud of. As he addressed his fellow probies at their graduation ceremony Wednesday, Ganci's speech was filled with memories of his father, fallen Chief of Department Pete Ganci.
“My father always ended the graduation speech with the same line: ‘By taking this job, you will never, ever be rich, but you will always be happy. And when someone asks you what you do for a living, you can look him in the eyes with pride and say that you are a New York City firefighter.’ Well, by looking at my first paycheck, I learned the first part the hard way,” said Ganci. “But as for the second part, I'm beginning to understand why.”
Chief Ganci was a 33-year veteran, and the highest-ranking uniformed officer killed on 9/11.
Brother Pete joined the department just before 9/11, and Chris decided to take the job even after getting a master’s in business this May, following in his father's footsteps.
“He'd be so proud,” said Kathleen Ganci, Pete and Chris’ mother. “He'd be so proud – a big smile on his face. So it's a great move on my son's part.”
“That's really what it was about growing up - it was about tradition. I just the hope that I can carry that into the firehouse,” said Chris. “I know that they're going to bust my chops but I look forward to it.”
Four other probies lost relatives in the attacks, among them, Probationary Firefighter Christopher Howard, whose father, Port Authority Police Officer George Howard, was also killed on 9/11. Howard's badge was given to George W. Bush during one of his visits to New York.
“I'm very proud of what he did. I hope I can be half the man he was,” Howard said about his father.
On the day the FDNY welcomed its newest members, it also said goodbye to one of its oldest. Assistant Chief and Bronx Borough Commander Joseph Callan retired after 40 years of service.
“It's been a great run, and this is a young person's job,” said Callan. “This job is in excellent hands.”
Callan's message to the graduates? Loyalty, safety, and respect for the great many fallen who came before.
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