Morris Co. 9/11 Ceremony To Feature Slain Firefighter's Daughter

PARSIPPANY, NJ — The public is invited to observe the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the Morris County 9/11 Memorial in Parsippany. Firefighter Rebecca Asaro, whose father was killed in the attacks, will provide keynote remarks.

The ceremony takes place at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Morris County 9/11 Memorial (West Hanover Avenue, Parsippany).

Asaro and her three brothers joined the Fire Department of New York in honor of their father, Carl Francis Asaro — one of 343 FDNY members killed Sept. 11, 2001. He died just a month shy of his 38th birthday.

Asaro’s firehouse in Midtown Manhattan was the hardest hit that day. Fifteen firefighters on Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9 — an entire shift — died as they responded to devastation as it was unfolding at the Twin Towers. Rebecca was only 9 years old when she, four siblings and her mother, Heloiza, lost their father and husband.

“I joined because my father was a firefighter who died in 9/11," Rebecca explained, noting she has uncles and close family friends who also are firefighters. "Four of us followed in his footsteps, with my younger brother and me graduating the academy in 2019."

Rebecca Asaro is now a member of Engine 54 — her father's unit.

FDNY veteran John Fila, a Boonton native and member of the Midtown firehouse, will join Asaro in the Morris County ceremony. Fila switched shifts that day, or he too would have been killed. He was good friends with Carl Asaro.

Morris County lost 64 residents in the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The county conducts an annual remembrance ceremony.

“Morris County is proud to annually commemorate the events of September 11th, 2001 even during a global pandemic," said Morris County Commissioner Director Stephen H. Shaw. "As this year marks the 20th anniversary of that tragic day, we are honored to be joined by Rebecca Asaro and to have John Fila return to stand with all of us at our memorial to once again say a prayer and echo our nation’s vow two decades later to never forget."

The Morris County 9/11 Memorial on West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany-Troy Hills was constructed to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks, with an emphasis on the 64 Morris County residents lost that day. The names of all who died are engraved in ruby-colored paving stones set in the walkway surrounding the memorial, and the names of each of the 64 Morris County residents killed are additionally listed on individual, brass plates affixed atop of the memorial’s inner wall.

Seating at the Memorial is limited, so the public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs to the outdoor observance. Parking will be available at the Morris County Department of Human Services building at 340 West Hanover Ave., on the Morris Township side of the street. Shuttle buses will be available to transport those in need the short distance to the Memorial.

Police, fire departments and rescue squads from across the county are invited to participate by sending one apparatus per department and assembling at 4:30 p.m. at the Morris County Public Safety Academy (500 West Hanover Ave., Parsippany).

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