Station New York Dedicates Building to 9/11 h ero
The thick fog hung low over New York Harbor as the New
York City Fire Department (FDNY) ceremonial bag-pipers
warmed up next to a row of fire trucks. Coast Guard members
walked across the field as the rain picked up in intensity.
Although the weather was less than ideal, the mood of the crowd
was not dampened.
Family, friends, shipmates and firefighters took their seats
under a tent next to a newly completed, state-of-the-art building
at Station New York on Friday, October 21, 2016. Everyone in
attendance was there to pay tribute to Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff
Palazzo, a fallen shipmate, firefighter, friend, father and now the
building's namesake.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, while serving bravely
with the FDNY, Palazzo and 10 other members from Rescue 5
made the ultimate sacrifice while assisting in the evacuation of
the World Trade Center.
"Today, not only do we dedicate a building, but we remember
Jeff's sacrifice and the person he was," said Lt. Cmdr. Garrett
Meyer, commanding officer of Station New York. "He personified
the Coast Guard's core values every day of his life."
Palazzo's dedication to helping others began at a young age.
His mother said that at age 12, while she and Jeff were sailing, he
noticed a nearby boat capsize. Two people were thrown into the
water. He immediately abandoned their vessel to rescue the
individuals and helped them into their sailboat.
Palazzo enlisted in 1988, and was sent to Coast Guard
CUTTER CAPE HORN. After that tour and another at Station
Chatham, Mass., he reported closer to home at Station Rockaway
in Queens. While there, he was involved in numerous search and
rescue cases including the sinking of the motor vessel BRONX
QUEEN and the grounding of the GOLDEN VENTURE.
In 1996, Palazzo left active duty status for the Coast Guard
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