3 Nassau Firefighters Added To State Memorial

Three Nassau County firefighters are among 23 who are having their names added to the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the Empire State Plaza this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday.

Richard Kaplan, a member of the Jericho Fire Department, Robert J. Langer, a member of the Westbury Fire Department, and Raymond A. Plakstis, Jr., a member of Alert Engine, Hook, Ladder and Hose Company No. 1 of Great Neck were all added to the memorial. They were the only firefighters from Long Island to be honored this year.

"New York's firefighters risk their lives every day, and many have made the ultimate sacrifice while running toward danger to protect the communities they serve," Cuomo said. "Firefighter Appreciation Day honors the legacies of these courageous men and women who sacrificed their lives to protect the people of this state and helps to ensure they will be remembered forever."

All three men were longtime firefighters who dedicated their lives to the fire service. Langer and Plakstis both died from illnesses they contracted after responding to the World Trade Center on 9/11. Langer died on April 3, 2015 at the age of 62. Plakstis died on Nov. 20, 2018 at the age of 57. Kaplan, a lifelong firefighter, died at his home on Jan. 24, 2017 at the age of 80.

With the addition of those added to the memorial today, the Fallen Firefighters Memorial now honors 2,575 individuals who lost their lives in the line of duty. The Fallen Firefighters Memorial, dedicated in 1998, honors the memory and valor of New York's fallen firefighters. It also pays tribute to more than 100,000 active firefighters in New York who put their lives on the line every day.

In 2018, fire departments statewide responded to 1,591,572 incidents — about 4,360 incidents each day, 182 incidents per hour and approximately 3 incidents every minute.

At the ceremony, Cuomo also issued two proclamations to honor the state's career and volunteer firefighters, marking Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 as Firefighter Appreciation Day and the week of Oct. 6-12, 2019 as Fire Prevention Week.