For former New York firefighter Rob Serra, hockey gave him back his sense of normalcy after the attacks on 9/11.
We sat down with Rob in 2020 to talk about his experience that day and what hockey means to him.
@SerraRob
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#NeverForget
Hey
@PGATOUR
I love this pic of my wife being taught how to put by her dad. He loved playing golf up until he was murdered by your business partners on 9/11/01.
#NeverForget
#GFY
Last night
@USArmy
veteran, retired
@FDNY
firefighter, nurse, father, husband and my former teammate Chris Slow passed away at 39. In his last act of service he donated his organs so that others might live.
#RIP
#Hero
#LookForTheHelpers
Our nation suffered a tremendous loss on
#September11th
2001.
#NeverForget
the families and loved ones lost or the soldiers that lost their lives defending our country after.
@MaxRose4NY
we met
@DanCrenshawTX
in the hallway. We introduced ourselves as 9/11 first responders and I tried to shake his hand but he couldn’t get away from us fast enough. Said he’d have his staff look into it as he walked away.
#neverforget
Let’s be clear, words matter: we were attacked by terrorists on 9/11. Thousands were murdered, too many of whom were from my district.
But actions matter too. So let’s do the right thing and
#Renew911VCF
.
Why aren’t you a cosponsor
@DanCrenshawTX
?
I just got back from Chris’s funeral. Hearing the pipers play Amazing Grace gets harder every time. Maybe you can give a second to think of him and his family today.
Last night
@USArmy
veteran, retired
@FDNY
firefighter, nurse, father, husband and my former teammate Chris Slow passed away at 39. In his last act of service he donated his organs so that others might live.
#RIP
#Hero
#LookForTheHelpers
The
@FDNY
has announced that retired Lt. Gerard McGibbon E-217 lost his battle with 9/11 illness on 1/24/21. Let this iconic photo of him remind us that the pain and suffering felt that day continues for so many.
#RIP
#343AndCounting
#MyFriendsAreDying
I keep hearing people say that we have surpassed the death toll of 9/11. I’m compelled to point out that the death toll from 9/11 is ever increasing. The
@EPA
knowingly made false claims that the air was safe and we continue to die from illnesses caused by those
#160toxins
.
NYPD PO Brian Rutherford and retired FDNY Batt. Chief Stephen Geraghty have passed away from hard fought battles with 9/11 related illnesses. We’ve lost 5 9/11 responders in the last week. May they RIP.
#NeverForget
On
#WorldCancerDay
I remember my friend and mentor Ray Pfeifer. He battled 9/11 cancer for nearly a decade and still continued fighting for others. We are proud to help his mission live on.
@RayPfeiferFDTN
#FDNY
#Hero
To the people criticizing
#AndrewLuck
, there is NOTHING more valuable than your health. I’d give anything to ride a bike, play a hockey game, pick up my kids or even take a walk around the block. If you’ve never experienced chronic pain consider yourself lucky and kindly STFU.
Sorry dude but you don’t get to hashtag Never Forget. I’ll never forget your objection. I’ll never forget that you voted NO to taking care of the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Kick rocks
Today is a day of remembrance & reflection. Kelley & I offer our thoughts & our prayers to the families & service members who put their lives on line to protect America.
#NeverForget
the Americans who died on 9/11 & those who still sacrifice to this day to protect and defend us.
The
@FDNY
has announced that retired Deputy Chief Richard J. Chatterton, Division 7, has lost his battle with 9/11 related illnesses.
#NeverForget
#343AndCounting
The
@FDNY
has announced that retired Deputy Chief Vincent Mandala has lost his battle with 9/11 related illnesses. He served our city for 42 years.
#NeverForget
#343AndCounting
5 years ago Ray left us. The day before he saved one last life—mine. I’m glad I answered the phone. I’m glad that he said what I needed to hear to keep the torch burning. We miss him and hope that he’s proud to see his light is still shining.
#NeverForget
@RayPfeiferFDTN
#Hero
The
@FDNY
has announced that retired Firefighter Frederick H. Gallagher, Ladder Company 103 has lost his battle with 9/11 related illnesses.
#NeverForget
#343AndCounting
Yeah right, guy. You lost the right to post this crap when you voted no and tried to block every piece of legislation meant to help 9/11 first responders and survivors. We don’t forget. As I’ve already told you, go get your shine box.
#Fraud
Today, we honor all those lost on 9/11 and the heroes who put their lives on the line to serve and protect. May our remembrance lead to a renewed desire for unity and peace.
#NeverForget
The
@FDNY
added 43 names to the 9/11 illness death wall. The pic on the right shows the new wall. As I said in DC years ago, we don’t want to be right. But the reality is that toxic dust will cut a lot of lives short. May they rest in peace.
#NeverForget
#343AndCounting
The
@FDNY
FAU has announced that retired Battalion Chief Vincent G. Lyons, Battalion 43 has died from 9/11 related illness. The
@usarmy
veteran served the department for 36 years.
#NeverForget
#343AndCounting
There’s a lot of bad
#NYC
images being shared lately. I choose to focus on this one of
@FDNY
FF Brian Quinn and company saving a life 16 stories up. There’s still love out there, we just have to look up from our screens once in a while.
#HappySunday
#LookForTheHelpers
Today I asked my son if he wanted to play soccer again next year. He responded “it was hard, I wasn’t good at it—but I guess I can keep trying like you always do”.
#mydude
#truestory
#renew911VCFHouseVoteNow
.
@RepKenBuck
it’s hard to believe it’s been just 2 months since you voted NO on the extension of the 9/11 vcf that takes care of sick and dying first responders. Now you conveniently want to remember. You sir forgot.
#Fraud
It’s hard to believe it’s been 18 years. Many of us remember exactly where we were on 9/11. We remember the victims who lost their lives, we remember our first responders, and we remember how America came together against forces that threatened our freedom. We will
#NeverForget
.
The
@FDNY
has announced that retired Deputy Chief Vincent Mandala has lost his battle with 9/11 related illnesses. He served our city for 42 years.
#NeverForget
#343AndCounting
So I just posted about yet another FDNY 9/11 death. Out of respect I didn’t want to add commentary but shit this f*cking sucks. I knew him, like so many others. It just won’t stop and it’s scary.
The tragedy of September 11 touched the entire world, and it's still felt today. We're honored to join Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at One World Observatory.
The
@fdny
announced the death of retired Firefighter Andrew S. Gargiulo of Engine Company 160. He is the fifth 9/11 responder to pass away in the last four days!
#MyFriendsAreDying
#NeverForget
Hey
@Uber
your driver just kicked me, an
@FDNY
firefighter in full dress uniform , out of his car because he didn’t want to drive to NYC. On 9/11. Cool cool.
#NeverForget
We lost another FDNY brother to 9/11 illness. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of retired Firefighter Stephen J. Reilly of Engine Company 155.
#NeverForget
#343andcounting
#250andcounting
My friend Mike Cammarata was the youngest
@FDNY
FF to give his life on 9-11-01. He had just for months on the job and his whole life in front of him. Raise a glass for “The Face” tonight.
#NeverForget
My friend and teammate Firefighter Michael Cammarata. Another life stolen from us on 9-11-01. He was the youngest
@FDNY
member at just 22 years old.
#NeverForget
I wrote this 2 years ago. The reason I’ve been in isolation for over a week is b/c I responded on 9/11 and got sick. I was 21 and it was my job. That day and the days that followed were hard to get through. I’m not sure why young people are finding it so hard to simply stay home.
As was the case when we got the bill passed, there’s no victory here. Another battle that never should have happened and another slap to the face. I’ll
#NeverForget
that either.
#MyFriendsAreDying
#343andcounting
.
@RandPaul
so you deserve 580k for some broken ribs but those that got sick, have died and will die because of the lies told by the
@EPA
after an act of war should get nothing? Over 10k have at least 1 9/11 related cancer. 40k more are sick.
.
@CongressmanHice
we will never forget that you voted NO on the extension of the 9/11 vcf that takes care of those sick and dying from 9/11 related illnesses. You forgot.
#Fraud
We lost another first responder to 9/11 illness. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Firefighter John Peteani of the Yonkers Fire Department.
#NeverForget
via
@lohud
Today, we remember the heroism and sacrifice shown by first responders and the men and women of Flight 93. We will
#NeverForget
the nearly 3,000 lives lost on
#September11
.
I spent the day in the ER yesterday. In the past when I would speak to non FDNY doctors about my 9-11 related “ailments” I would just get a blank stare. Yesterday they all just nodded and said “of course, I understand”. Happy about the progress, sad about the progression.
The firefighter’s name is Larry McGee. His name should be in this story. Messier should take the time to learn his name. And I say that as a lifelong Rangers fan that grew up wearing
#11
.
"The firefighter who brought it over did it on impulse, just to honor Chief Downey. ... It was done on his behalf, for his legacy as a family man, a firefighter and a Rangers fan."
The meaning behind Mark Messier and Chief Downey's helmet. ⬇️
I refrained from commenting on this development because of the timing and the simple fact that I’m not surprised. I’ll just say that 9/11 has been a political pissing match for 19 years and to date it’s only the first responders and survivors getting wet.
This is the helmet I wore on 9/11/01. When 9/11 illnesses forced my retirement
@nycgov
charged me $100 to keep it. Otherwise they would have destroyed it. Pretty much sums up how I feel about our government’s treatment of 9/11 first responders and survivors.
#TYFYS
#NeverForget
Three
@FDNY
firefighters have died from 9/11 Illnesses in the last week. We have been watching our friends suffer and die from a myriad of horrific diseases for 20 years.
#NeverForget
#OurFriendsAreDying
Today the FDNY had over 3000 members out sick. LA has the country’s second largest Fire Department, they have 3,574 members. And we have plenty more that haven’t been able to get tested. We have to get them tested and masks NOW.
#COVID
ー19
#PPEshortage
Yesterday a Twitter troll referred to Jon Stewart as “slime”on one of my posts. I guess dedicating your life to supporting first responders and veterans is somehow offensive?! You can disagree with his politics, but his goodness is unquestionable.
@FOXSports
needs to issue an apology and fire whoever made this graphic. You turned a grave site into a promo. Thousand died there and thousands have died from 9/11 illnesses.
@Yankees
should issue a statement as well. This is unacceptable.
As of this morning 1844 members of the
#FDNY
were on medical leave showing signs and symptoms of
#COVID
ー19 without reported test results. Why is there still not a system for testing first responders? Where are the masks?
#holdtheline
#NYC
#whatarewedoing
I think about all of the times I said in DC meetings that I don’t want to be right. That the unfortunate truth is we will continue to get sick and die from exposure to that toxic dust at an alarming rate. This makes 3
#FDNY
in a week.
#MyFriendsAreDying
.
@RepAndyBiggsAZ
and we are just two months removed from the day you and 11 other reps voted NO on the extension of the 9/11 VCF that takes care of first responders and survivors suffering and dying from 9/11 illnesses.
#Fraud
We are now a generation removed from the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but we still remember that horrific event with sadness & solidarity.
This morning, I joined my colleagues on the steps of the House of Representatives to observe a moment of silence & to sing “God Bless America.”
This isn’t how I’d choose to remember my friend & hero, Detective George Moreno—here with his daughter in his final days—but it’s VITAL to recognize the depth of the sacrifices of 9/11 responders still suffering. Our oath to NEVER FORGET evolves in meaning but remains unwavering.
.
@RepArrington
we will not forget that two months ago you voted NO on the extension of the 9/11 vcf that takes care of first responders and survivors suffering from various 9/11 related illnesses. As we proved on 9/11 OUR American values include taking care of each other.
#Fraud
We will
#NeverForget
the evil that came to our shores on this day 18 years ago, how the deadliest attack in our history forever changed our nation, and how it only strengthened our resolve to stand against terror and in defense of freedom and our American values.
#NeverForget911
My best buddy is 7 today. I hope that when he’s old enough to go through my timeline he’ll find this and see how much I love him. I’m proud and honored to be the father of such a good little man.
#MyDude
#HappyBirthday
10 years ago today I came to and crawled my way out of this fire. Just another reason that I never need to be reminded to “hug my kids a little tighter”.
#ProtectYaNeck
This is the
#FDNY
9/11 illness death wall. I just heard the Dept is planning on doubling its size to keep up with the death rates. Sadly, I don’t think that’s going to be big enough either. So if I’ve been angry this week I’m not F$cking sorry.
#MyFriendsAreDying
#Dust