Pre-schoolers at Mary Mother of God Church show support
By:Alec Moore
Hillsborough resident Pat Friscia has been taking things one day at a time since the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center claimed the life of her 37-year old brother, Tim McSweeney.
Mr. McSweeney, a 14-year veteran firefighter with New York City Fire Department Ladder Company #3, was among the firefighters on the 35th floor of World Trade Center Tower attempting to rescue people inside when the buildings suddenly collapsed.
"We just heard that he was carrying people down when the building collapsed," said Ms. Friscia, who along with her family, laid the memory of her brother to rest last Monday after several weeks of uncertainty, since Mr. McSweeney’s body has not been recovered.
Despite the pain over the loss of her brother, Ms. Friscia takes a degree of solace in knowing that her brother died doing that which he loved most saving the lives of others.
"He loved being a fireman," Ms. Friscia said of her brother who, as a boy, never had any doubts about what he wanted to do when he grew up as he hoped to follow in the foot steps of his father former New York City Fire Battalion Chief Dennis McSweeney.
"He was truly wonderful man, he was a true American hero and he never wanted anything from anyone, but he was always giving," Ms. Friscia said of her brother, affectionately known as the big guy, given his 6’4" stature. "If he had to do it all over again he would have done it, no questions asked," she added reflecting on her brother’s comittment to saving the lives of others, even putting their lives ahead of his own.
Mr. McSweeney leaves behind his wife, Debbie, and their three children, four-year old Dennis, two-year old Maggie and 9-month old Patrick.
In honor of Mr. McSweeney, pre-schoolers at the Mary Mother of God pre-school, including Ms. Friscia’s three-year old daughter Megan, presented firefighters from Hillsborough’s Volunteer Fire Company #37 with $187, collected in honor of Mr. McSweeney.
"On behalf of the Hillsborough Fire Department, we thank you and we appreciate this very much," said Hillsborough Fire Chief Nick Speciale, who was joined with several other firefighters from Hillsborough Fire Company #37, which operates out of the #2 firehouse on Hamilton Road.
Following the presentation to Chief Speciale, the firefighters spoke with the the pre-schoolers, as well as their parents, about the importance of fire safety and showed them some of their firefighting gear.
"If there’s a fire, don’t worry about your pets and your toys," said Captain Carl Rawles as he spoke to the youngsters about what they should do in the event of a fire in their home. "You go with your parents and get out of the house," he said. "We’ll take care of your pets and your toys."

