Joe LaPointe, Commanding Officer of the FDNY Ceremonial Unit doesn’t consider his job depressing. He says “It is a great honor and great privilege to sit down with a loved one and explain to them what the FDNY traditions are and get what their thoughts are”. He says, “Our mantra in the FDNY is we never forget. We truly don’t forget. We will be there for them forever”. Joe believes the small details on funeral day help the families begin their healing process. On 9/11, Lt. Joe LaPointe was off-duty, working his second job at a Staten Island auto body/fender shop. All off-duty FDNY’ers were told to report to duty. LaPointe quickly responded to Rescue 5, where firefighters boarded buses to take them to the Staten Island Ferry. During the 25-minute ferry ride to Lower Manhattan, they silently watched both towers fall. A member of the clergy was with them and gave general absolution to them all. No one knew if they’d ever make it back.