(Zack pictured on left - Photo courtesy of Fox 5 - News in NYC)
BVA members Bob Brody, Michael E. Pollock and Richard Wersinger were in Albany on May 19, 2004 as the New York State EMS Memorial was dedicated on the Empire State Plaza. Also in attendance with several hundred EMS workers were Governor Pataki with members of the state legislature including our district NYS Senator Joe Robach and Assemblyman Joe Morelle. NYS Commissioner of Health Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. P.H., a strong supporter of the EMS system gave speech declaring that EMS personnel are now recognized on the same level of police officers and firefighters.
(L to R: Bob Brody, Jian Xian Cen, Michael E. Pollock, Gloria Shum, Louisa Shum and Richard Wersinger)
BVA's own Zhe "Zack" Zeng was one of 25 names placed on the memorial in its inaugural year. Killed while performing emergency first aid during the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. His induction was witnessed by his mother Jiao Xian Cen, Aunt Louisa Shum and Cousin Gloria Shum.
Zack's mother received an engraved Star of Life, identical to the one mounted on the EMS Memorial, as a remembrance. It was mounted a small sheet of granite.
(Pollock is seen in the front row, left end behind NYS Assembly Speaker Silver)
Michael E. Pollock, BVA Public Information Officer was one of the ten uniformed members selected to stand beside the new memorial and behind the speakers' platform representing NYS EMS uniformed personnel during the dedication ceremony
Zhe "Zack" Zeng
(Photo 1998)
Brighton Volunteer Ambulance's own Zhe "Zack" Zeng, EMT was honored during this year's National EMS Memorial Service ceremony on May 29, 2004. The service took place at the First Baptist Church of Roanoke VA. Zack (age 29) perished during the World Trade Center attack on 9-11-2001, while performing first aid on victims on the scene, before the towers collapsed.
14 EMS personnel from 10 states from around the nation were honored as Line of Duty Deaths, including our Zack. This year's service was unique because it also included the youngest honoree (18 years old) to the oldest (73 years old). Families, friends and EMS representatives from around the country were present.
The day began with a Procession of Honor. Lead by a plain unmarked ambulance draped with black material were two buses containing the families and representatives of those being honored. As the procession traveled at 15 mph through the streets of Roanoke, it passed emergency vehicles from around the country. Those personnel stood at attention and saluted those who lost their loved ones. Each emergency vehicle then joined the line, lights flashing, sirens wailing. The line got longer and longer. Civilians along the street stopped and watched this solemn sojourn.
EMS honor guards from City of Pittsburgh, PA; City of Boston, MA; City of Cleveland, OH; New York City EMS; Louisville (KY) Metro EMS; County of Forsyth/Winston-Salem, NC; Knoxville, TN; Westmoreland County, PA; Sussex County, DE; Action Ambulance, Wilmington MA and the Minnesota State EMS Honor Guard participated in the ceremonies.
Members of the honoree's families are presented with a medallion, symbolizing eternal memory; a U.S. Flag which has flown over the Nation's Capital, symbolizing service to the country; and a White Rose, symbolizing their undying love.
Michael E. Pollock (left center) receives a salute from those attending the National EMS Service after being presented with a medal honoring Zack, a white rose and a U.S. flag that flew over the U.S. Capital.
BVA's Michael E. Pollock (left) attended the ceremony and represented BVA and accepted the medal, U.S. flag and white Rose on behalf of Zack's family. Pollock is pictured here with his ceremonial escort, Captain Rockey Johnson of the Louisville (KY) Metro EMS Honor Guard.
In additional to the presentations made during the service, each honoree's name is engraved on a bronze oak leaf which is added to the "Tree of Life", the Permanent Memorial on exhibit at the "To the Rescue" Museum in Roanoke.
Family members touch the leaf of their departed loved ones on the Tree of Life Memorial located at the "To The Rescue" Museum, the nation's only EMS museum located in Roanoke VA.
A National EMS Moment of Silence was was observed during the memorial service concurrently nationwide on all EMS radio dispatch frequencies.
The National EMS Memorial service is recognized by the Congress of the United States as the official national EMS service. It is funded solely by contributions. Please make a contribution to this important organization that supports the EMS community and their family members when a member is lost in the line of duty. Click here to donate.
July 10, 2004, the sun shone down on the friends and colleagues of Zack Zeng gathered at the La Tourette Golf Course in Staten Island. This event started in 2002 in memory of their friend and co-worker at the Bank of New York - ADR Division, who died while saving others during the 9 - 11 Terrorist Attack on World Trade Center. Each year, proceeds from the event are donated to Brighton Volunteer Ambulance to help carry on their lifesaving work in memory of their friend, Zack.
" Team Zack"
Immediately following the golf tournament, there was a picnic at a nearby school. After dinner, BVA's Michael E. Pollock presented Zack's mother and brother with the medal and the U.S. flag that had flown over the United States Capital in Washington D.C. that were presented to him as he represented Zack's family at the National EMS Service in Roanoke VA on May 29, 2004.
Below is a close-up view of the medal present to the Zeng Family
by the National EMS Memorial Service
The New York City Council has passed a bill to posthumously honor Zhe 'Zack" Zeng by renaming Bayard Street between Mulberry Street and Baxter Street in the Chinatown area of Manhattan after the fallen hero. Zack died while using his Emergency Medical Technician training he learned at Brighton Volunteer Ambulance. Zack was giving first aid to injured persons leaving the World Trade Center, after the planes crashed into them on September 11, 2001 and died when the towers collapsed. The street will be known as Zhe "Zack" Zeng Way. It borders a park where Zack used to meet his friends.
This honor was carried through the New York City Council jointly by Council Members Alan J. Gerson, in whose district the street is located, and John C. Liu. Zack's mother working with both council members' staff hand-carried petitions door to door gather the support of the neighbors.
Zack will be further honored in May, when his name is placed on the New York State EMS Memorial in Albany on May 19th and the National EMS Memorial in Roanoke VA on May 29th. Details of those events can be found below.
On Saturday, September 11, 2004, in New York City there were remembrances of those who perished in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, three years earlier.
While the largest memorial event was the reading of the names of the victims at the area now known as "Ground Zero"; not far away in Chinatown, there was a early afternoon celebration of life. New York City officials along with family and friends of the late BVA member Zhe "Zack" Zeng renamed Bayard Street between Mulberry and Baxter Street 'Zhe "Zack" Zeng Way' in honor of Zeng, a WTC 9 - 11 hero.
Zack was a NYS certified Emergency Medical Technician that had volunteered at Brighton Volunteer Ambulance near Rochester NY, while attending the University of Rochester. He had returned to NYC in 1998 to help support his family after he earned his MBA degree.
The Chinese media had a strong showing at the street renaming.
'Zhe "Zack" Zeng Way' is the first New York City
street named after an Asian-American
(Photo by Danny Burstein)
It was a mother's love with the help of this lower Manhattan neighborhood and the New York City Council that made this event come to pass. Zack's mother went door-to-door in NYC's Chinatown gathering signatures on a petition. Working with NYC council staff members and the documentation provided by BVA in Zack's nomination for both the New York State EMS Memorial and the National EMS Service, the information was presented to the NYC Council for approval.
Zack perished when the first World Trade Center tower fell. He had responded there after the terrorist airliners had struck the towers. His Bank of New York building just blocks away was safely evacuated. Zack saw what had happened and knew there would be injured victims waiting for medical care. He gathered all the first aid kits he could carry and responded without being asked. Shortly before the towers fell, he was videotaped by WNYW - TV Fox 5 News rendering emergency aid.
Speakers at the event included NYC Council members Alan J. Gerson and John C. Liu, as the ceremony opened. York Chan, President of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New York; Chinese Ambassador, Consul General Liu Biwei; Michael E. Pollock, Public Information Officer - Brighton Volunteer Ambulance; Andrew Levine, Managing Director - Bank of New York and Alicia Lai Wah, a classmate of Zack's from Seward Park High School in Brooklyn also spoke to those gathered. Closing remarks were made by Zack's mother, Chen Jiaoxian.
Left to Right: Perry E. Palma Gil, BNY-ADR Division; Michael E. Pollock, PIO for BVA; Chen Jiaoxian, Zack's mother; Shen Zeng, Zack's brother and Louisa Shum, Zack's aunt stand near one of the sign poles bearing the name 'Zhe "Zack" Zeng Way' after BVA's fallen hero
Immediately following the ceremony renaming the NYC street after Zhe "Zack" Zeng, there was another happy ceremony. Perry E. Palma Gil, Assistant Vice President of the Bank of New York - ADR Division, a co-worker and close friend of Zack, presented Michael E. Pollock, Public Information Officer for Brighton Volunteer Ambulance with a check for $2043.00 from the Zack Zeng Foundation.
This money was the proceeds of the Third Annual Zack Zeng Golf Tournament held last July on Staten Island. The tournament, which is held annually, is put on by Zack's friends at Bank of New York - ADR Division.
The Zack Zeng Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization set up by these special people at Bank of New York - ADR Division that wanted to see Zack's name live on to help Brighton Volunteer Ambulance continue its mission to serve the people of Brighton (Monroe County) NY. This is a special remembrance of Zack because he was a EMT in Brighton, while attending the University of Rochester.