RALEIGH — Firefighters in the Triangle have been leading a valiant effort to raise funds for the rescue workers up north. Now a group is heading to New York to honor those who have lost their lives.

Members of the

North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation

are planning a trip to New York this weekend to present

special plaques

to Mayor Giuliani and others in honor of the New York fire department's top two members and their chaplain.

Eventually, the foundation plans to give a plaque the families of each fallen firefighter.

"We want them to know how much North Carolina cares and how the firefighters here feel the grief they feel. We know we can't come close to what they're feeling But they were our brothers, too," says Capt. J.A.Woodall of the N.C. Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

The group hopes to meet with New York firefighters on Sunday.