Lasky was hired as chief of the fire department in Lewisville , Texas in April 2000 . After the September 11 attacks , Lasky , who knew many New York firefighters and was a close friend of chief Peter Ganci , and the Lewisville Fire Department gained national attention when they raised over $ 200,000 for the families of New York Firefighters . The fundraising effort caught the attention of John Travolta , who visited Lewisville as a favor to Lasky while promoting the film '' Ladder 49 '' . In 2004 , Lasky formed a pipe band honor guard for the Lewisville Fire Department , and in 2008 , the department began holding the Keeping Tradition Alive Symposium , which brings hundreds of members of various pipe honor guards representing various firefighting units across the country . In 2011 , Lasky was honored on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Michael C. Burgess
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Rick Lasky