NYC Pizzerias Honor 9/11 Heroes

Never forget their courage and sacrifice

Portraits on restaurant walls just seem to attract eyeballs. Patrons take a break from their phone screens to check out the Hollywood celebrities, music artists and sports stars on display.

This month, NYC pizzerias have tweaked that tradition in remembrance of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Across the five boroughs, pictures of famous folks will vanish, replaced by images of surviving 9/11 first responders who continue to serve their communities.

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The non-profit FealGood Foundation and agency Rethink developed the “Walls of Honor” initiative, rolling out across Prince Street Pizza, Patsy’s, Juliana’s, Bleecker Street Pizza, John’s of Bleecker, Paulie Gee’s and more.

“Anyone who’s ever been to a pizza place, whether as a local or a tourist, has curiously scanned the celebrity photo wall to see who they might recognize,” notes Rethink ACD Gabriel Sehringer. “We wanted to redirect that attention towards a group of New Yorkers who could use it most, in a distinctly New York way.”

Rethink notes that the 23rd anniversary likely won’t resonate with the public like the 20th or 25th. So, the “Walls of Honor” aims to drive coverage and awareness, keeping responders in the collective consciousness and educating folks about their continued heath challenges and other issues.

Behind the rallying cry “No Responder Left Behind,” FealGood has raised $10 million for the cause and advocated in Congress. Daily Show host Jon Stewart is one of the group’s most vocal allies.