Raymond Meisenheimer
Firefighter
Rescue 3

Memorial Service was held
on October 5, 2001

This page is dedicated to Raymond Meisenheimer from Daniel McDonough, formerly of Rescue of Rescue 3
and Ladder 18.
Brother, you are always in our hearts and our thoughts. You will never be forgotten.

from a fellow brother firefighter

Their Friends, Our Heroes
Survivors Left in Station of Sorrow

N E W Y O R K, Sept. 19 — It is hard for the firefighters who worked alongside Ray Meisenheimer to accept that he's not on duty any more. His name has been listed on the firehouse chalkboard since last Tuesday — the day of the World Trade Center attack.

"What I wouldn't do to sit here and argue with him about something right now, you know," firefighter Doug Hantusch said. "To tell him he was wrong, and have him tell me I was wrong … it was a lot of fun," he said on ABCNEWS' Good Morning America.

Meisenheimer was part of a special collapse unit at the New York City Fire Department's Rescue Station 3, located in the Bronx. The unit is trained to handle collapsed buildings.

Meisenheimer, a father of two, was just ending his shift when a call came in announcing the World Trade Center disaster in lower Manhattan. He rushed to the scene.

Seven on-duty firefighters from Station 3 headed straight for ground zero that Tuesday Sept. 11, and none of them returned.

Better Days

Good Morning America first met Meisenheimer last year when he and other New York City firefighters cheerfully took on a weight-loss challenge on the show.

Meisenheimer started exercising, eating well and enjoying a healthier lifestyle. During his diet the crew of Rescue Station 3 supported Meisenheimer, and there was some teasing, too.

"There were a few guys in the firehouse who would ccasionally bring in chocolate donuts for breakfast in the morning to try to tempt him," Hantusch said.

Another of Good Morning America's dieting firefighters, Paul Pansini, is also missing. He joined the show last year along with Meisenheimer for the weight- loss challenge. The firefighter from Engine 10 in Manhattan was determined to live a long and healthy life.

Thanking the Heroes

There are makeshift memorials in front of firehouses across New York City. Thousands of people brought flowers, candles, cards, prayers, poems and letters of thanks. The overwhelming theme is that these heroes didn't lose their lives … they gave them.

"This is simply one of the greatest collections of human beings you'll ever see in the world, this fire department," said Hantusch.

The firefighters who escaped the World Trade Center attack say they will bring Meisenheimer back where he belongs.

"We love him dearly," Hantusch said. "Like I said, we're going to see him again, we're going to see him again. One way or another, we'll see him again."

An article about Ray

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