The sound is haunting.

“It’s a very emotional instrument, said Liam Flaherty, chairman and drum major of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes & Drums. “It stirs the soul.”

And in that soundtrack, there’s great heritage, a rich tradition, a promise to never forget.

What You Need To Know

  • Liam Flaherty, the drum major and chairman of the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, estimates the band played 600 funerals, memorials, ceremonies and street renamings in the two years following 9/11

  • Flaherty worked with Rescue 4 in Woodside, Queens at the time, which lost seven men when the South Tower collapsed

  • Flaherty says the band continues to play funerals, as more than 250 firefighters have died from 9/11 related illnesses

Flaherty was off the morning of September 11th.

“The first call was from my sister. She was crying. She’s like, 'Thank God you’re not working,' and I looked. The first tower had just been hit. And I said 'I gotta go,'" Flaherty said.

At the time, Flaherty worked with Rescue 4 on Queens Boulevard in Woodside. The firefighters from his company who relieved him the night before were already at the scene. Like so many first responders, he rushed downtown.

“It was hell on earth. It was biblical, Armageddon-like scenario. It didn’t take us long to realize we lost everybody,” Flaherty said.

Seven men from Rescue 4 were killed when the South Tower collapsed, including his best friend, and bandmate, Durrell “Bronko” Pearsall.

“It was very personal. Besides all the guys in my firehouse, I lost close to 100 close friends on that day,” Flaherty said.

And as the recovery efforts began, so did the funerals.

“We’d have a funeral with the pipe band. So go to that. Work the firehouse. Then come back down here and dig. Then do a funeral, firehouse, dig. That was my life for two years,” Flaherty said.

But as joining the department was a calling, he said honoring the heroes is a duty.

“I would not change it for the world. I knew I was where I had to be. And I take comfort in that,” Flaherty said.

Flaherty estimates the band played around 600 funerals, memorial services, street re-namings and other ceremonies related to 9/11 in the two years following the terror attacks.

Since then, an additional 254 firefighters have died from 9/11-related illnesses.

“If you would have told me 20 years ago we’d still be doing funerals for 9/11, I wouldn’t believe you,” Flaherty said. “We will honor everyone, until whenever, the last day. Which is hard to predict.”  

And on a recent crisp, clear September morning, not unlike the day that forever changed the trajectory of his life, Flaherty led the band through a wreath-laying ceremony on hallowed ground at the World Trade Center Memorial.

In attendance, the next generation. Dozens of probationary firefighters, some just infants in 2001, listened to the tradition and a sound steeped in respect.

“It’s just our way of remembering the sacrifices that were made here, we don’t take that lightly,” said Flaherty. “We have that credo, never forget and we never forget."