COVINGTON — A Hebron firefighter is behind a Memorial Mass here for New York's fallen firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel.

        The first thought Mike Fronimos had in mid-morning 24 days ago was to go to New York City to help his fellow firefighters.

        Mr. Fronimos, a two-year member of the Hebron Fire Department, did not head east to help remove the rubble — and bodies — after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Instead, he has organized the memorial Mass at 12:05 p.m. today at Mother of God Church, 119 W. Sixth St.

        Mr. Fronimos expects about 1,000 firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians from at least four states.

        “I know there's people coming from Detroit, Indianapolis, Gary, Ind., Louisville and Lexington as well as the Greater Cincinnati area,” he said.

        “I felt something was needed,” Mr. Fronimos said Wednesday.

        The Mass is open to the public. For police, fire and emergency medical personnel, dress uniforms are suggested.

        Covington Fire Department Capt. Allan Terry will be there.

        He talks of an “unconscious bond” among firefighters at the station at the corner of Scott Boulevard and Robbins Street — a bond so strong because his colleagues spend a third of their lives together.

        “You feel it in your soul,” Capt. Terry said. “They're just normal guys (in New York) doing their job, which other people don't want to do. This is our way of letting the guys who died know they're not forgotten.”

        Mr. Fronimos thinks the shock of what happened is wearing off, and he believes people realize rooting out terrorists will take time.

        “We don't want this to happen again ... ” Capt. Terry said. “It can happen anywhere in the United States.”

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