Jim Riches: FDNY Chief and 9/11 Families Advocate Laid to Rest

Honoring a Fallen Hero

• 🏅 Deputy FDNY Fire Chief James Riches, a hero to many, was laid to rest after succumbing to 9/11 related illnesses.
• 💔 He became a national spokesperson for 9/11 families after his oldest son, Jimmy Jr., a firefighter, died on that fateful day.

The Search for Jimmy Jr.

• 🔍 For six months, Jim Riches tirelessly searched Ground Zero, sifting through tons of debris to find his son's remains.
• 🎗️ His determination to bring his son home became an inspiration to other fathers searching for their loved ones.

A Legacy of Advocacy

• ✊ Riches transformed his personal grief into a purposeful fight for 9/11 families and those sickened by toxic dust.
• 🏛️ He actively opposed housing unidentified human remains in the 9/11 museum, advocating for a memorial on the plaza for continued DNA testing.
• 🗣️ He was known for speaking truth and advocating for heroes who were never forgotten.

A Father's Devotion

• 🚗 Riches kept his son Jimmy Jr.'s memory alive, even keeping his son's Mercedes convertible sports car.
• 🕊️ His life is remembered as an epitome of a father's devotion, now reunited with his son in the afterlife.