Gregory de la Haba - Fireman

Artist: Gregory de la HabaTitle: 9/11 3.43 PMMedium: Oil on wood panelDimensions: 85" x 48" ~Back in September of 2002, on the one year anniversary of 911, my wife Teresa and I knew the bar would be very busy that day. McSorley’s has always been a place of comfort to firefighters after memorial services for their fallen brothers. But we knew this day would be different. And it was. From the moment we opened at 11am, firemen the world over and from almost every state in the nation started to enter the ancient swinging doors on East 7th street. And it didn’t let up until sunset. At 3pm, Richie Schmidt with Rescue 4 in Queens asked me if he could give a speech. “Of course, Richie” I said. ‘Can I stand on the bar?’ he asked. I wasn’t sure Richie’s 6’6” frame could fit between the top of the bar and the ceiling. Or if the old bar could hold his weight. I said, “Richie, how about you stand over here” and pointed to the middle of the bar where a solid and thick piece of wood props it up. At 3