Manhattan Bar Honors Over 7,000 9/11 First Responders with Patch-Covered Walls

O’Hara’s Restaurant and Pub, located a block south of the World Trade Center, survived the September 11 dust cloud and reopened in April 2002 as a refuge for workers at Ground Zero. Its co-owner Mike Keane recounts that the patch-display started on the tragedy’s first anniversary when a construction crew member affixed a fire department patch to the bar, and today more than 7,000 patches from police, firefighters, EMTs, military and international responders cover every surface.

The bar draws former and current first responders, including 20-year FDNY veteran Tim Brown, who visits several times a week, and paramedic Amanda Lynch, who adds her Philadelphia Fire Department patch in memory of her uncle and grandfather. Visitors from across the United States and places like Guam, as well as groups such as the Afghan military’s Female Tactical Platoon, send patches to be displayed. The venue also honors civilian hero Welles Crowther with his red bandana, now part of the collection. Keane plans to keep the bar open on September 11, offering a place for drinks and remembrance, and says additional walls can be added if needed.