Speaker 4: 07710771. Councilors Braden and Barr call for the following resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary anniversary of the hotel burned on fire on June 17, 1972, and memorializing the lives of nine firefighters lost in the line of duty.
Speaker 1: The Chair recognizes counsel. Braden Counsel. Operator, you have the floor.
Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to suspend the rule of 12 and add yourself. President Flynn as a third co-sponsor.
Speaker 1: Hearing no objections. The chair is added as the original 33rd co-sponsor.
Speaker 7: You know, I came to Boston and. Got involved with the McCarthy family, my partner's family. And there's a tradition in that family that when a fire fire and a fire truck goes by with all the alarms going. They say St Lawrence prays for them. And it's a reminder that firefighters rush in to danger, to save or save lives every, every day. On June 17th, 1972, after nearly 3 hours of fighting a massive blaze at the Hotel Vendome in 1660 Commonwealth IV in the Back Bay, part of the building collapsed, trapping 25 firefighters and claiming the lives of nine members, making the tragedy the largest line of duty, a death in the history of the Boston Fire Department. This Friday, we will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of that very tragic day and the loss of those firefighters. Yet. One of the nine members of the fire department whose lives were lost were fire new tenant Thomas J. Carroll of Engine 32. Fire to Tenant John E. Hanbury of Ladder 13. Firefighter Charles Donlan of Ladder 13. Firefighter Joe Sanok of Ladder 13. Firefighter John E Jamieson of Engine 22. Firefighter Thomas W Beckwith of Engine 32. Firefighter Paul J. Murphy of Engine 32. Firefighter Richard McGee of Engine 32. And firefighter Joseph Boettcher of Engine 22. The end. The tragedy of the Hotel Vendome fire exemplifies the risk, courage and self-sacrifice of the firefighting folks and the occupation of the firefighters in the performance of of the duty and service. I was and recently last fall, we had a we had a fire in our neighborhood. There was a lot of it was in the early morning hours of 1:00 or so. And we had a lot of fire alarms going off. And and we we got out of bed and we walked over and witnessed firsthand the incredible bravery and commitment of our firefighters as they rescued folks from a fire. One unfortunately, one young man died in the blaze. But this is sort of the daily work of our firefighters. It's also a reminder that firefighters, they rush into danger every day. We had the firefighter at the Vendome tragedy on June 17th, 1972, and in December of 1999. I was fairly new to the country, but there was tremendous tragedy, a hard, really difficult tragedy in Worcester when six firefighters died, when the building collapsed. And on September 11th, 343 firefighters died rushing into a building to save others. And I want to take this moment not only to recognize the sacrifices of the firefighters who fell on June 17, 1972, but all the other five firefighters who have died in the line of duty, and those also who are impacted by the pollution and the distress and the pollution that they experienced just exposed to day to day and that everyday work. So I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution and honoring the fallen firefighters at the Vendome. Thank you.
Speaker 1: Thank you, counsel. Brady in the chair recognizes counsel. Counsel Bork, you have the floor.
Speaker 7: Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to you and to counsel for co-sponsoring. Counsel has spoken about it at length. So I just want to say that these firefighters are still very heavily remembered in the Back Bay, and I'm glad that our predecessors were able to support a memorial to them 25 years ago. But, you know, that day that we lost these nine men, we also, you know, 25 kids lost their father. And those kids are still alive today and they've been bearing that loss for 50 years. So I think it's it's neat and proper that the city should continue to recognize this. And I do want to ask the councilor for District eight, invite all colleagues who can make it on Friday at 11 a.m. will be at the memorial at the corner of Commonwealth and Dartmouth marking this anniversary. So anybody who can come I know we would love to have you there. And and just the one other thing I want to say is that, you know, in the aftermath of the fire, there was a whole study. And what they found was that a structurally inappropriate modification had been made to the building actually several decades prior. That was the reason for this sudden collapse of the five floors. So I just want to emphasize that for a lot of us as counselors, we encounter the fire codes when we have constituents calling, complaining about the fact that they're building project as being hung up on the fact that the fire department still needs to do is due diligence. And I just think that the Vendome fire is a really important example of why we have those important structural safety rules in place. So I just want to want to add my condolences to the families who still feel this loss 50 years later and support for all of our firefighters who do this dangerous work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Speaker 3: Thank you. The chair now recognizes Council President Flynn as President Flynn, the floor is yours.
Speaker 1: Thank you, Counselor Arroyo. And thank you to counsel and counsel Braden for adding me on as an original co-sponsor. I just wanted to highlight the sacrifices of these firefighters, but also their families as well of the service and the sacrifices their families made for our city. And for our country. Over the weekend, we were at Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain with many members of the Boston Fire Fire Department, and some of them are here now from local local 718. There was firefighter Firefighter Memorial Sunday, and we came together as a city to pray for the families of the fallen firefighters. But we also resolved, as elected officials coming into the state house, coming into city hall, to do everything we can to support firefighters, to support their families on so many issues and challenges a firefighter faces every day. So and I think Councilor Braeden mentioned a couple of them, the various health related issues that firefighters and their families are subjected to because of the dangerous job that they do. So I'm just I'm just honored to be here and to be part of this be part of this resolution. Thank you, Councilor Braden. Thank you. Council BLOCK But also to make all of my councilors who have been strong supporters of the Boston Fire Department, including former state representative Michael Flaherty, Council fired his father, who really led the charge up at the state house in support of firefighters across across the state. Thank you, council.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Council President Flynn recognized Councilor Murphy. Council member you have the floor.
Speaker 7: Thank you. Arroyo So I'm standing in full support of commemorating the Hotel Vendome fire. And I want to thank you, Councilor Brady and Councilor Bach and also Councilor Flynn, for filing this resolution. As we know, it takes a lot of courage and dedication to enter a burning building when others we know are trying to run out in the opposite direction. And it also requires training, skill, caring and discipline to rescue and tend to a victim of a fire or an accident in the midst of confusion and danger. Last month I visited Moon Island with the recruit class and saw them in the midst of their training and knowing. They have to put a lot of effort in to make sure that when they're on the job out there protecting us, that they're ready for that. So I stand with our councilors today to express our deepest condolences to those families whose loved ones were lost in service and to highlight the risk, courage and sacrifice of all of our firefighters in the city of Boston who protect and serve our residents every day. And Councilor Flynn mentioned and I know I was there, along with Councilor Florida and Councilor Lujan for the Young and Mayor Woo at the firefighter mass last weekend, which was beautiful. But when they handed out all those flowers and you saw how many firefighters we have lost and families that also put their lives on the risk, they're just sacrifice also. So I just want to thank our firefighters and thank you to the sponsors of this.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilor Murphy. And I recognize Councilor, I mean, here you have the full resources.
Speaker 8: Thank you. Vice-Chair I just wanted to thank the makers for bringing this resolution to the floor. And I just have to say, you know, I, my first term was focused on it and I didn't really get an opportunity to build a relationship or to learn about our front line workers and the dedication that and the risk that they put their lives in every single day. And I just want to just say thank you for not just answering the call of duty. I've gotten to know a lot of your members over the last year or so, and just just the social, emotional and traumatic impact that a lot of the families face when they see their loved ones going off to duty and not knowing whether or not they're going to come back. And so I just want to rise in support of this resolution and and to send my sincere condolences to the family. I know that you have a fighter in me, even though I'm always fighting a job, you know, lots of love . And thank you so much to my council colleagues for filing this resolution. Thank you. Calls my name.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilor. Me here and I recognize councilor who?
Speaker 6: Yes, thank you. Thank you to Councilor Braeden for this resolution. I just want to echo what Councilor Murphy had said. We attended a beautiful, somber ceremony this past Sunday, really recognizing acknowledging the sacrifice made by the firefighters who have lost their life when trying to save others. So I think the firefighters of this city, I think the families I think Councilor express it really well, like 25 children. Without parents as a result of the hotel band on fire. So I want to take a moment to acknowledge that as as as part of our history here in the city of Boston and want to thank those who.
Speaker 1: Are.
Speaker 6: Who choose to enter this profession, which requires a great amount of sacrifice. So thank you to the makers in commemorating this moment of the Hotel Vendome fire and to the city for the memorial to firefighters that we had on Sunday. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you, counselor. Would anyone else like to speak on this matter? Seeing no other hands? Would anyone else like to add their name? Mr. Clarke, please add Counselor Baker, please add counselor collapses at Counselor Fernandez Anderson, please. Counselor Flaherty, please add counselor Laura, please. And Counselor Louisiana, please. And councilman here please at Counselor Murphy and please add my name. Counselors, Braydon Bach and flames seek suspension. The rules and adoption of docket 0771. All those in favor say I thank all those opposed. Say name. Docket number 771 is now adopted.
Speaker 1: Thank you. Council Rail. Docket number 0772. Is withdrawn. 24 hours. We're onto personnel. We're out of personnel orders. Mr. Clarke, please read your card. 0773, please.
Resolution commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Hotel Vendome fire on June 17, 1972 and memorializing the lives of nine firefighters lost in the line of duty.
Councilor Arroyo in the Chair.
On motion of Councilors Breadon and Bok, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Flynn as a co-sponsor.
On motion of Councilors Breadon, Bok and Flynn, the rules were suspended; the resolution was adopted.