The bravery and dedication demonstrated by New York City firefighters in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attack was immeasurable. T-shirts and caps bearing the FDNY insignia and the slogan "New York's Bravest" are worn with pride throughout the city even now, a full year later. But amid the cheering, the stories of the twelve African American firefighters who died while trying to save others at Ground Zero got lost in the clamor.

"It's been a sad year," sighs Michael Marshall, a FDNY Lieutenant and spokesperson for the Vulcan Society, the association of black firefighters of New York. "Knowing that we run the risk of not coming home is part of our job but when it happens that knowledge doesn't make bearing it any easier."

The Vulcan Society is the oldest organization of black firefighters in the country. Founded in 1948 after Wesley Williams, the first African American Battalion Chief, endured repeated incidents of racial discrimination and physical attacks, Williams galvanized his fellow black firefighters into an organization that collectively represented their interests. Last year's loss is the greatest the organization has suffered in its 54-year history. The Vulcans lost 12 of their 300 members from fire stations scattered across the five boroughs. The close-knit group of firefighters total just 2.7 % of the city's 11,000 firefighters.

Marshall says the society is not planning to hold an official September 11th commemoration event. The Vulcans have been honoring its lost brothers all year. They held a memorial service last November, organized several barbecues and picnics to entertain and fundraise for the wives and children of the deceased, sponsored an art exhibit to commemorate the lives and services of the victims and provided pastoral and psychological counseling to victims' families.

Earlier this year, the City of New York planned to build a memorial sculpture of three firemen of different races to honor the firefighters who died in the September 11th rescue effort. The United Association of Firefighters (UAF) protested, saying the idea was political pandering since the famous photo upon which the monument was to be based is of three white firefighters. Although the city has scrapped plans for the monument, members of the Vulcan Society say they are in solidarity with their "brothers" of all races and remain in firm allegiance to their vocation and to their country. To honor the firefighters lost, the Vulcan Society has plans of its own to build a memorial of three African American firefighters in front of their headquarters in place of the makeshift alter of photos, flowers, ribbons and flags that has stood at the gate of the headquarters since late last year.

Alvin Kevelier, a Queens firefighter and liaison between the society and the families of the victims, says the anniversary will be a difficult time for families. "There were times I would call to give five minutes of information and we would end up being on the phone for 45 minutes. It was a time of grief for all of us and we all needed to talk," he said.

The family members I tried to contact chose not to be interviewed. Many say they want to keep the day and its spirit sacred. Some are attending memorial services across New York, from Harlem to Bed-Stuy and from the Bronx to Corona in Queens. "I was very close to some of the men, especially Vernon Richard, who was a Captain," said Kevelier. "I plan to spend the day quietly remembering them."

The twelve men lost in the September 11th disaster can never be replaced but New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta have announced a minority recruitment campaign called "Heroes Wanted" that should boost the number of the City's black firefighters. For now, their numbers remain small but Vulcan Society President, Paul Washington, is determined to change that. He calls the mayor and fire commissioner's moves "late" but is hopeful that more African Americans will respond to the campaign and join the FDNY.

Meanwhile, the mood at the Vulcan Society Headquarters, a red brownstone with a red, black and green flag flying alongside the American flag on Brooklyn's bustling Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights is solemn but business goes on as usual. "We are here to serve the interests of the black firefighters in New York," said Marshall.

On September 11, 2001, The Vulcan Society lost twelve heroes: Firefighter Gerard L. Baptiste, Firefighter Vernon Cherry, Firefighter Tarel Coleman, Firefighter Andre R. Fletcher, Firefighter Keith Glascoe, Firefighter Ronnie Henderson, Firefighter William L. Henry, Firefighter Karl Joseph, Firefighter Keithroy Maynard, Firefighter Shawn Powell, Captain Vernon Richard and Firefighter Leon Smith.

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