Zanetis, Who Attended NYU, Requested in his Will for Funeral to be Held at the Park
Washington Square Park was closed until early afternoon yesterday for a processional ceremony honoring Christopher “Tripp” Zanetis, a New York City firefighter and Air National Guardsman who died along with six other people in a helicopter crash in Iraq on March 15th. Mr. Zanetis attended New York University and asked in his will for his funeral to be held in Washington Square Park. The ceremony began with procession from his firehouse in the East Village, Engine 28 Ladder 11, to the park. There was a large attendance of family and friends, uniformed firefighters and police officers as well as Mayor Bill De Blasio who spoke. The park was closed all morning and reopened around 12:30 or 1 p.m. The city Parks Department closed the park at the request of the FDNY and NYPD.
A bit more detail on the helicopter crash from Stanford University News [Zanetis graduated from Stanford Law School in 2017]: “U.S. military officials said the cause of helicopter crash, which killed all seven service members on board near the city of Qaim, Iraq, is under investigation but some reports have indicated it hit power lines. Four of the crew members, including Zanetis, were from the New York National Guard 106th Rescue Wing based in Long Island.”
You can see more photos of the processional ceremony within Washington Square Park at The New York Daily News and from NYU News.
Photos: Cathryn
Previously at Washington Square Park Blog:
Washington Sq Park Closed March 29 Until 2 p.m. for Funeral of NYC Firefighter Christopher ‘Tripp’ Zanetis Who Died in Iraq March 28, 2018