For Lt. JOHN CRISCI, FDNY HAZ MAT Company 1

I wish to thank everyone who has taken the time and responded with expressions of support for my brother John and his family. To those who wear a bracelet in honor of Lt. John A Crisci, I would like to tell you what John stood for.

John was first a husband, who for nearly thirty years loved his wife Rachael. Together they raised three fine upstanding boys, John Jr, Michael and Joseph.. He was dedicated to his three sons, never pushing them but rather supporting them in all of their endeavors. The boys excelled in sports, school and behind them was their mother and father reinforcing the true value of competition, that friendship and fair play was the reward, not just winning.

My brother John began his life in public service with the New York City Police Department, assigned to the 88th precinct and then the 114th precinct before becoming a NYC Firefighter.

In 1988, a major fire consumed a tenement in NYC's Harlem area. John was informed that a small child was missing and may be on the sixth floor. He raced into the building up six flights of stairs crawled through thick smoke and found the child. With his back to the flames and the child in his arms he exited the burning building down a firescape to safety.

He was honored by the NYC Fire Department with one of its highest awards. I was so proud of him as I watched him that night on television recounting his experience to a newsman, with that typical "What's the big deal" manner he always had. When you think of John, see a man who loved his children and wife. A man who worked for everything and took nothing for granted. We were born in Brooklyn in a three-room apartment that never had heat in the winter and was always hot in the summer. We lost our father when he passed away in 1968, John was only 15 then and just starting High School, yet he stayed in school and went on to college. I want everyone to remember John for what he stood for and that is family. At night, kiss your children before they fall asleep, hug your wife before you go to work and never forget to say you love them.

Life is too short.

- Leonard Crisci

Through The Ashes

More Comics