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The 9/11 firefighter whose death went uncounted
CNN • • nation
Key Points:
- Arnold Roma, a retired NYPD officer and volunteer firefighter, lost his son Keith, a New York Fire Patrolman, during the 9/11 attacks; Keith died inside the North Tower after helping evacuate civilians.
- Keith Roma's death is not included in the official FDNY count of 343 firefighters who died on 9/11 because he was a member of the now-defunct New York Fire Patrol, a separate private fire salvage corps.
- Despite numerous appeals over 25 years, Arnold Roma has been unable to get his son officially recognized alongside FDNY firefighters on memorials and during commemorations, though Keith received several posthumous honors.
- The New York Fire Patrol, established in the 19th century to protect property from fire damage alongside the FDNY, was disbanded in 2006 due to funding cuts, ending nearly two centuries of service.
- Arnold Roma continues to advocate to honor Keith's sacrifice and preserve the legacy of the Fire Patrol, emphasizing the need to remember all heroes who served and died during 9/11 beyond the official FDNY numbers.
