She lost firefighter dad during 9/11—on her wedding day, the fire department showed up with wholesome surprise

A person might feel the loss of a loved one more strongly on a special day. A bride who had lost her dad when she was just three years old was feeling it, too. The woman, Kristin Schnacky, lost her firefighter dad during the 9/11 attacks in 2001, as he was working as a response team member during the incident. Kristin had thought that she would elope as she didn't like the idea of walking down the aisle by herself. But then her dad's firehouse planned a big surprise for her, per a post shared to her Instagram page, @kristinscnacky, on September 3.

The moment the bride walked out of the hotel to get to her wedding venue, she realized why firefighters call their units a "brotherhood." As she came out, Kristin noticed two fire trucks standing outside, waiting for her. "Firefighters (new and retired) from my dad's firehouse, Rescue One, showed up to my hotel and escorted me all the way to our venue where Noah was waiting at the altar," the caption read. "They stopped their lives to be a part of my special day to honor my dad." Several men in uniform had lined up to click a picture with her and to welcome her. The sight brought tears to Kristin's eyes. "It truly was a symbol of my dad walking me down the aisle and I know it’s exactly how he would have wanted it. This one is for you, Dad."

In another video, Kristin shared a clip of the moment and expressed that she was truly grateful for the gesture from the Fire Department of New York City. "I know my dad was smiling knowing that I was taken care of. Thank you for never forgetting FDNY," she went on. The video panned to the woman's mom and brother, crying at the gesture as well. The woman's mom, Katrina, never remarried after losing her husband, Ken Marino, during the attacks, per TODAY.com. "I always thought I would just elope because I didn’t have a dad to walk me down the aisle. The thought of not having him there made me too sad," Kristin told the outlet. The family had moved to Massachusetts after 2001, but the firefighters always checked in on them.

People appreciated the gesture in the comments section of the video. @ashlynamberg wrote, "I just bawled my eyes out. Your dad is so proud of you and all you have accomplished and the beautiful woman you have become. This hits me hard, being a parent." @seriously_renee commented, "My father was also FDNY and passed from 9/11 related cancers. The way the FDNY took over the streets for his funeral showed me what he meant when he would call them brother. This is truly so beautiful, and I know he was standing there in uniform, so proud of the woman you have grown into." @koah9872 remarked, "Your dad is so proud and looking over yours and Noah’s beautiful life."

In another video, Kristin shared that she ended up walking down the aisle with her poppy, her dad's dad. "As a girl who lost her dad at a young age, I truthfully never dreamt of my wedding day the way girls usually do," she expressed. "But having my poppy (his dad) walk me down the aisle was exactly how it was supposed to be. I know my dad was there with me the whole time." In yet another video, Kristin shared that she really wanted to get married in New York City because she felt her dad's presence there. His body had never been recovered from the scene. "Whenever I'm in New York, I know I’m in his city and he will be right there next to me at my wedding."

You can follow Kristin Schnacky (@kristinscnacky) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.

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