Tomorrow - 8 year 9/11 anniversary...(PLEASE READ POST #12)

[JessicaR]

Hi gang,

So it's been 8 years. On sept 11, 2001, i was on my third year employed with the F.D.N.Y., my fire house is in brooklyn nyc. It is a day or the next 4 months i will never forgot, no matter how hard i try sometimes.There were 4 of us, me, john, danny and bobby, we had to take a chief car who was out on vacation ( not disney either,) since all the other rigs were already on the way there and we arrived seconds after the first tower collpased. Instead of all the bad, horror these eyes have seen working rescue and recovery at ground zero, i like to tell you about all the good that went on.

First off, we were a family down there, police,fire,ems,iron workers and everyone else. Manhattan was closed in or out to any and all traffic except emergency vechiles. Poland spring had 3 trucks stuck in the city and sent them to ground zero and unloaded 3 trucks filled with water for us. Gatorade sent a truck filled with drinks as well. Coke and pepsi and dr pepper and others did the same.Some company sent over 100 flashlights, ready to go with the battires installed. Timberland sent a few dozen pair of boots and other companys followed with boots, clothes, first aid supplys. Anything you can think of that we needed starting to show up.

Around 3 pm, we took a break and a walk to try to find some food, we rounded a corner and there was a line of people 4 blocks long. I was'nt sure why or who they were, but soon found out. This line streched into beakman hospital and they were people of every background just there to donate blood. To do thier part. It was amazing. I heard this was the seen at every hospital in every boro of nyc and other states as well. We never found any food, every one has closed shop and left the city.

It did'nt matter, around 5 or 6 pm outback steakhouse sent over about 100 bags of food, as well did mc donalds, burger king, kfc,applebees,t.g.i.f's and a few other local chains. It was already cold, but the best food i even ever had, maybe because i was hungry. Around 9 pm, a huge group of peole began to assemble on the west side highway, everytime we walk in or out or any emergency vechile would pull in or out, they would clap and cheer, it was louder that being at a sports stadium. It brought tears to our eyes.It was amazing and after feeling defeated and depressed it gave us the strenght to go in the pile for a few more hours.

A few days later firefighters, medics, police and others began to show up from all over the world. I met a few from, brazil, turkey, italy, japan- they were'nt being paid they were just there to help, and they became part of the ground zero family too. I remember tractor trailers would show up packed to the gills with supplys for us from all over the country and some from other countrys too. Letters from school children began to arrive by the hundreds, after a month thier had to be millions of letters from people everywhere in the world.

We ( me, john,bobby,danny) were permantly assigned to ground zero for 4 months. The chief came back from vacation and discovered that his car had been found crushed at ground zero, he tried to find out how it got there, but to this day no one knows.

This one no one seems to know, but wanna know how cool disney is?? In april 2002, Walt disney world released the hero's getaway package. It was for any member of the FDNY, EMS,NYPD,PAPD , it was free park tickets for the lenght of your stay and a 50% off hotel rate at disneyworld. I could'nt go, but i watched some of my guys leave looking drained and return with smiles, something i had not see them do since that day.

I returned home on the 13th, parked my car still in uniform and walked over to my house. Two neighbors ran and hugged me, they had'nt seen my car or me and thought i too had died. Then they looked at me strangly. I was gray from all the dust and both my hands were covered in blood. I had been digging in the pile so long, i had worn away most of the skin on my finger tips and knuckles, i did'nt know it until they pointed it out.

I walked into my house and dw slapped me in the face, grabbed me and hugged me so tight i could'nt breathe and began crying. I bumped into my cousin at groud zero also fdny, he was going back to his fire house for supplys and assured me that he would call my family and let them know i was ok. He called his parents but with that days events, forgot to tell them to call my parents and my wife. My wife called FDNY headquaters so many times, they listed me as offically missing. My family thought i was gone forever. You should have seen the red tape i had to go to to prove to them i was'nt missing and ok.

Me and bobby still talk, he has since transfered to another fire house and is doing fine, with 2 little boys and one more on the way in dec. John, isn't doing so well. I went to visit him at his home in staten island about 3 years ago, i wish i had'nt. He now is on home oxygen 24 hours a day, turns blue if he tries to walk and coughs up fiber glass and rocks or concrete. Last i heard he is confined to his bed as he can't get enought oxygen into his blood to walk. Then there is danny, a few months after 9/11 danny wrote a letter about all that we saw down there. He said that he could'nt get the bad visions out of his memory and could'nt seem from the nightmares. He put a loaded shot gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger, he was 28.

His death was not the first sucide or the last linking the sept 11 attacks. His dad found him and from what we heard has moved out of nyc and just given up on life, somewhere in arizona.

I'm no hero, the heros were lost on 9/11, i just wanted you to see the good that came out of evil on that day and the days and months after. Live for today cause you really never know what tomorrow holds for any of us.

Thank you all for everything you did to help us thru that day, even your prayers were felt by us.

Mr. FDNY

Thank you for sharing. Thank you and thank God for you and yours that day and the many days that followed. You say you aren't but in my eyes and many you are a hero and so much more. Over the years I read your posts and they always bring comfort. It's very nice to have you here. Peace.

 

[live4christp1]

Thanks so much for posting this. Now I am a complete mess. You and all the others are definately heros in my book. Thank you and God bless!

God bless America!

Hi gang,

So it's been 8 years. On sept 11, 2001, i was on my third year employed with the F.D.N.Y., my fire house is in brooklyn nyc. It is a day or the next 4 months i will never forgot, no matter how hard i try sometimes.There were 4 of us, me, john, danny and bobby, we had to take a chief car who was out on vacation ( not disney either,) since all the other rigs were already on the way there and we arrived seconds after the first tower collpased. Instead of all the bad, horror these eyes have seen working rescue and recovery at ground zero, i like to tell you about all the good that went on.

First off, we were a family down there, police,fire,ems,iron workers and everyone else. Manhattan was closed in or out to any and all traffic except emergency vechiles. Poland spring had 3 trucks stuck in the city and sent them to ground zero and unloaded 3 trucks filled with water for us. Gatorade sent a truck filled with drinks as well. Coke and pepsi and dr pepper and others did the same.Some company sent over 100 flashlights, ready to go with the battires installed. Timberland sent a few dozen pair of boots and other companys followed with boots, clothes, first aid supplys. Anything you can think of that we needed starting to show up.

Around 3 pm, we took a break and a walk to try to find some food, we rounded a corner and there was a line of people 4 blocks long. I was'nt sure why or who they were, but soon found out. This line streched into beakman hospital and they were people of every background just there to donate blood. To do thier part. It was amazing. I heard this was the seen at every hospital in every boro of nyc and other states as well. We never found any food, every one has closed shop and left the city.

It did'nt matter, around 5 or 6 pm outback steakhouse sent over about 100 bags of food, as well did mc donalds, burger king, kfc,applebees,t.g.i.f's and a few other local chains. It was already cold, but the best food i even ever had, maybe because i was hungry. Around 9 pm, a huge group of peole began to assemble on the west side highway, everytime we walk in or out or any emergency vechile would pull in or out, they would clap and cheer, it was louder that being at a sports stadium. It brought tears to our eyes.It was amazing and after feeling defeated and depressed it gave us the strenght to go in the pile for a few more hours.

A few days later firefighters, medics, police and others began to show up from all over the world. I met a few from, brazil, turkey, italy, japan- they were'nt being paid they were just there to help, and they became part of the ground zero family too. I remember tractor trailers would show up packed to the gills with supplys for us from all over the country and some from other countrys too. Letters from school children began to arrive by the hundreds, after a month thier had to be millions of letters from people everywhere in the world.

We ( me, john,bobby,danny) were permantly assigned to ground zero for 4 months. The chief came back from vacation and discovered that his car had been found crushed at ground zero, he tried to find out how it got there, but to this day no one knows.

This one no one seems to know, but wanna know how cool disney is?? In april 2002, Walt disney world released the hero's getaway package. It was for any member of the FDNY, EMS,NYPD,PAPD , it was free park tickets for the lenght of your stay and a 50% off hotel rate at disneyworld. I could'nt go, but i watched some of my guys leave looking drained and return with smiles, something i had not see them do since that day.

I returned home on the 13th, parked my car still in uniform and walked over to my house. Two neighbors ran and hugged me, they had'nt seen my car or me and thought i too had died. Then they looked at me strangly. I was gray from all the dust and both my hands were covered in blood. I had been digging in the pile so long, i had worn away most of the skin on my finger tips and knuckles, i did'nt know it until they pointed it out.

I walked into my house and dw slapped me in the face, grabbed me and hugged me so tight i could'nt breathe and began crying. I bumped into my cousin at groud zero also fdny, he was going back to his fire house for supplys and assured me that he would call my family and let them know i was ok. He called his parents but with that days events, forgot to tell them to call my parents and my wife. My wife called FDNY headquaters so many times, they listed me as offically missing. My family thought i was gone forever. You should have seen the red tape i had to go to to prove to them i was'nt missing and ok.

Me and bobby still talk, he has since transfered to another fire house and is doing fine, with 2 little boys and one more on the way in dec. John, isn't doing so well. I went to visit him at his home in staten island about 3 years ago, i wish i had'nt. He now is on home oxygen 24 hours a day, turns blue if he tries to walk and coughs up fiber glass and rocks or concrete. Last i heard he is confined to his bed as he can't get enought oxygen into his blood to walk. Then there is danny, a few months after 9/11 danny wrote a letter about all that we saw down there. He said that he could'nt get the bad visions out of his memory and could'nt seem from the nightmares. He put a loaded shot gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger, he was 28.

His death was not the first sucide or the last linking the sept 11 attacks. His dad found him and from what we heard has moved out of nyc and just given up on life, somewhere in arizona.

I'm no hero, the heros were lost on 9/11, i just wanted you to see the good that came out of evil on that day and the days and months after. Live for today cause you really never know what tomorrow holds for any of us.

Thank you all for everything you did to help us thru that day, even your prayers were felt by us.

Mr. FDNY

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I'm wearing my red, white, and blue shirt with an eagle flying over the mountains on it. I did forget for a second when I woke up and put on a different shirt, but I remembered pretty quickly.
Mr. FDNY, thank you for posting your story. It made me cry, but I really appreciate the work of all the heroes (and yes, you are one) who were there that day.

 

[Minnie's Pal]

So tragic...still praying for you all.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Mr. FDNY, Thank you...My BIL and a close friend are PAPD (both are noe retired after 9/11). Thankfully they are here with us today but many of their friends are not.

Thank you for sharing your story...thank you for all your hard work.

 

[Tantor]

Mr FDNY
Thank you for all you have done, we lost Canadians in the towers too.

I am a mess after reading that.....if you don't mind I would like to copy and paste your post so I can read it to my friends and family.

 

[Sandy321]

Dear Mr FDNY,

I add my thanks, gratitude to your selfless giving of yourself on a day with so much - there are no words to describe 9/11... You, and your family have given so very much...

You may not be a mytholigical hero by Greek Standards of "hero" but you are a modern day hero - it took exceptional courage and strength not only to be a Fireman, but on 9/11 all that you did, without thought to your own being, your family, you put the needs of the many over the needs of the one... you continue to show great strength - finding it somewhere, somehow to continue on - to make sure no one forgets what happened that day - you chose to share the positive sides -

the positives you shared are so very poignant - and are so very important! May they continue to rise above the hate.

Thank you for taking the time to share a very personal story. Thank you for being you, for having the traits of a much needed modern day hero.

and thank your family for me also, I know they have never forgotten the gift of your life either... I appreciate their sacrifice as well as your sacrifice for all you do - I thank you!

May God hear and Bless you and your family.

 

[TnTsParty]

Mr FDNY - you and all the other rescue personnel who worked that day and the days/months following 9/11 are definately heros. In all the footage its the rescue workers who are running toward the buildings instead of away which is human nature - to run away from danger. And all the rescue worked were running toward the danger. I thank them for what them do not only that day but every day. And to those who lost their lives that day my thoughts and prayers are with their familes.

 

[locolala]

Mr. FDNY.. you have brought tears to my eyes, and brought back so many memories. I was at the Pentagon several hours after the attack, giving aid to your brothers and sisters. All I did was hand out water bottles, food, and blankets.. but those men and women looked at me like I was an angel. I'll never, ever forget that, or the thing I saw that night. To this day I can't drive past the Pentagon without getting choked up, and when I went to a reunion of sorts for the Red Cross volunteers that gathered that day, I couldn't stop myself from bawling like a baby. Thank you, Mr. FDNY.. thank you for being a hero, for being the kind of person I want to be someday.

 

[mrsstats]

Thank you Mr FDNY for all you did and continue to do. 9/11 always brings tears to my eyes and so did your post. God Bless all who look out for our country

 

[C.Ann]

I can't imagine how anyone could forget - or not spend a good portion of that day thinking about all of the innocent people who lost their lives on 9/11..

I have spent the past 8 years collecting information; photos; newspaper and magzine articles; books; videos; DVD's; and anything else that I can get my hands on in rememberance of that fateful day.. I have spent 8 years compiling scrapbooks on 9/11 that will one day be passed on to my DGD.. My greatest wish is that she will understand that these were human beings that died that day - not just "numbers"..

I have two very large books - over 1000 pages each - that contain biographies of everyone who died that day and each September I sit down and read as many as I can from each book beginning on 9/10 and continuing on through 9/12.. It has been 8 long years and still I'm not even halfway through each book..

As I read along I wonder about the families that were left behind - how they're doing now - and how they manage to cope with such a horrendous loss (or losses).. When I read the biographies of families who lost more than one member - the widows who were expecting their first child soon - the couples who had just recently gotten married - those who died on their birthdays - I have all I can do to see through my tears.. Still - I won't stop reading until I have read every single biography.. I feel that's the least I can do in rememberance of them.. I also will never stop collecting information regarding that day for my DGD because I want her to have the "entire" story of 9/11/2001 - not just a few paragraphs or a chapter in her history books at school..

She was just about to turn 3 years old on that horrific day and of all the places we could have been, we were in Disney World when the attacks began.. The "happiest place on earth" suddenly became the saddest - in just a matter of minutes.. No one will ever have to remind us to remember that day - it will be burned in our memories forever..

Sadder still is the fact that there have been even more victims since then - people who became seriously ill and died due to the toxins in the air.. In the years to come, there will likely be more.. Sometimes I wonder if the impact of that day will ever end..