Her Father Died on 9/11 When She Was 3 Years Old, But FDNY Stepped in On Her Wedding Day

The bride, Kristin Schnacky, was only three years old when her father died on 9/11. Kenneth Marino, 40, of FDNY Rescue 1, was killed during the collapse of the Twin Towers. Kristin was getting married, and although her dad couldn't be there, new and retired firefighters from Rescue 1 stepped in on her special day.

In a clip Kristin posted on TikTok, we can see her walking through a lobby in her wedding dress, and out the door, down red steps, where she writes, “My dad couldn’t show up to my wedding because he was taken from us on September 11th, so look who did.” Then we see a line of nine firefighters all standing in uniform in front of the fire truck.

She Saw the Brotherhood That So Many Talked About

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She then writes, “I finally understand why they say it’s a brotherhood. I know my dad was smiling down, knowing I was taken care of. Thank you for never forgetting FDNY.”

As Kristin stands there, tears are in her eyes. Her mom, Katrina, and brother, Tyler, are also tearing up. The fire truck brought Kristin to the Rockefeller Center’s 620 Loft and Garden rooftop venue, where she married her fiancé, Noah Schnacky. You can see St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the background. At the wedding, her “Poppy,” her dad’s dad, walked her down the aisle.

The Firefighters Came to Honor Her Father Who Died On 9/11

“It was overwhelming,” the bride shares in an interview with CBS News. “I would stop crying and then I would look at them and then I would bawl my eyes out again.”

The nine firefighters from Rescue 1, came to honor and stand in for Kristin’s father, firefighter Kenneth Marino. He was a firefighter for over 20 years, and served at Rescue Company 1 in Hell's Kitchen for over 10 years. He has received three citations for going above and beyond the call of duty.

He died on 9/11/2001, responding to the north tower. The bride was only 3.5 years old at the time, and her brother was just 1. They were never able to recover his body, according to Parade.

“It’s hard to tell if I remember him from the stories or if I remember him just memory,” Kristin shares.

@kristin_schnacky I couldn’t hold it in…thank you for honoring my dad FDNY ❤️🚒 @FOLLOW THE BRIDE ♬ Rescue - Lauren Daigle

She Was a Daddy’s Girl

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Kristin talks about how she was a daddy’s girl and how her mom told her she was his prize. “He just loved me so much,” she says.

She chose to get married in New York City to feel as close to him as she could. And she definitely felt his presence on that day. “That was the most special thing in the entire world,” she says of the firefighters showing up and escorting her to the wedding.

Many Shared Their Stories of Her Father in Her Comments

In the comments of her TikTok video, many people are sharing what they know of her father, from those who researched him as one of the first responders during school to those who knew him or had a family member who did. What a special moment to share with the world.

Best wishes to the newlyweds as they start their lives together, with such a fantastic wedding to begin it all with.

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WATCH: Bride Shares Video of Firefighters Honoring Her Father Who Died On 9/11

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h/t: CBS New York

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/CBS New York

Julie Provost is a GodUpdates staff writer and editor. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, three boys, and little dog Max. She loves to read, go to the movies, and enjoy time with family and friends.