Rest in peace old friend.

Thank you for your service cuz

Dear friends and family of Christopher James Pickford,
We will NEVER FORGET. It is September 12, 2021. Yesterday, my husband Reed and I participated in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Red Rocks Park, Colorado. I pulled Christopher’s badge at random from the registration table, intentionally wanting to honor a firefighter whom I’d never met, by climbing the equivalent of the 110 flights of stairs in the World Trade Center building at Red Rocks amphitheater. This ritual is very important to me personally, as a physical reminder of the selfless and courageous ultimate sacrifice made by Christopher and 342 other firefighters on that terrible day twenty years ago. We will NEVER FORGET. I hung his ID card from my cap as I joined 1200 other participants, many of them firefighters in full turn-out gear and Scott packs, making our journey up those steps.
In his welcoming address that morning, Shawn Duncan, the event organizer, mentioned resources for folks wishing to reach out and find the families of those they had climbed in honor of. So I went to this website wanting to learn more about the firefighter I’d been ‘matched’ with this year, to find out more than simply a face on a badge and the fact that Engine 201 was from Brooklyn. Christopher seems like a very well-rounded guy, a musician and a poet, what a gift. I am sure he brought many priceless moments of joy to those around him, lucky enough to have shared his love of music and friendship.
The time I spent thinking about Christopher and his fellow fallen heroes left me feeling very emotional, vulnerable, fragile, flawed, humble, grateful and what it really feels like to be human. I plan to do something with these feelings, to translate them into something tangible and worthwhile to give back and pay it forward in whatever way I possibly can, no matter how insignificant my action may seem. I would like to try to make a positive difference in the shadow of the tragedy that took Christopher’s life, to give it meaning at least, to me.
Thanks to Christopher, I feel I can and must do better.
We will NEVER FORGET.
In eternal gratitude,
Nadia Maryniak Halstead

Thank you for your sacrifice to save others. You will never be forgotten.

Last year I did the 9/11 tower challenge in Tucson AZ. I wore his picture while doing the challenge. May you rest in Peace.

I miss you Chris. You took such good care of me as a young ADA. I loved watching you play at the Elbow Room – you rocked! I live in Israel now and so does my family. My daughter checked in on me today and asked about you. She never knew you but always remembers you and the stories I told about you. She even did a school project about you. I love that your memory lives on in the next generation. I hope your mom and the rest of your family know how much your were loved and respected at QDA and in the FDNY. Keep watching over your family. You are forever in my heart. I will always remember that last big hug I gave you and how I said “be safe” – yet I always knew you would put others in front of yourself. I am proud to have known you, my friend and my hero! 💔❤️

Chris would rent out rehearsal space at a place I worked at when I was a kid. He was the sweetest and kindest person I had and have met ever since. Every year, I post a commemoration on Facebook with a pic and link to this page. Let’s keep his spirit alive!

Rest in power, Chris 🫶🏻

Very proud of my cousin Christopher J’ Pickford. Thank you for your service.