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Fire Anniversary, Walkway Over the Hudson - CLICK FOR PORTFOLIO.
Project type
Fire Anniversary, Walkway Over the Hudson
Date
Held Every May
Location
Walkway Over the Hudson
I directed the 40th Anniversary Commemoration of the May 8, 1974 fire that engulfed the historic Poughkeepsie–Highland Railroad Bridge, a Hudson Valley landmark that had served as a vital rail crossing since 1889. The massive blaze destroyed nearly 700 feet of rail, ended all travel over the span, and left the bridge standing idle for decades before its remarkable rebirth as the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park in 2009.
For the anniversary event, held in the center of the bridge, I researched and located more than 68 surviving firefighters who had responded to the original blaze and brought them together for a powerful remembrance. I coordinated press coverage, fire apparatus participation, and a moving noon ceremony honoring the Highland Fire District, City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department, Mobile Life Support Services, Inc., and New York State Park Police, alongside law enforcement and emergency services, creating a meaningful tribute to the courage, resilience, and legacy that helped preserve the bridge for future generations.
© Photography by Jami L. Anson.
