By Katie Vasquez
MIDDLE VILLAGE — New York City is replacing more than 300 street signs honoring members of the FDNY and NYPD who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The new signs will be installed before the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
One of the replacement signs was unveiled at the corner of 69th Place and Eliot Avenue in Middle Village. The red sign bears the name of FDNY Lt. Kenneth Phelan, who died on 9/11.
Phelan was not scheduled to work that day but reported for duty after hearing the call.
He had strong ties to the Middle Village and Massapequa communities. His family has lived on the Middle Village block for three decades.
Phelan came from a large family, was a devoted New York Mets fan and was active at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church.
He was also the first baby baptized at Our Lady of Hope, which was founded in 1960.
The red and blue signs are being placed throughout the city to preserve the memory of the firefighters and police officers who died on 9/11.