James J. Lanza (1945-2017) served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War and later became a member of FDNY’s Engine 53, Ladder 43, known as ‘El Barrio’s Bravest.’ On September 11th, he and other firefighters pulled 16 people out of the rubble alive. During his 30 years with FDNY, he assisted in the search-and-recovery mission in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina; served on the board of the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation; and volunteered at the Red Cross. He died as a result of 9/11-related cancer.