I have had two rare privileges in my life, compliments of a friend from the Coast Guard, to ride with the New York City Fire Department. The first ride was my friend Mickey and me riding on Engine 75. Mickey’s dream in 1981, and even before, was to be a New York City firefighter. I think it was in 1985 that Mickey’s dream came true and he was hired. Another part of Mickey’s dream was to be a firefighter on Rescue 3 in the Bronx. Fast forward to 1998 or 1999. I had the opportunity to take two others on my crew from Engine 1-C shift to New York to ride with Rescue 3. Mickey was now a firefighter assigned to Rescue 3, the Big Blue. In about 15 hours, we saw more than we saw in most of our careers, including a fire that burned a city block. On Sept. 11, 2001, the New York City fire department was forever changed. Crews were dispatched to one of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center because a commercial airliner had crashed into the building. A short time later, a second plane would crash into the second tower, and at that point everyone knew that America was under attack from an unknown enemy.
Crews responded from all over the city. The command post was set up in the lobby of one of the towers. As people were trying to evacuate, firefighters were making their way up the stairwells in two 110-story buildings to fight fire and rescue victims. No one knew what the effect would be of a building being struck by a commercial airliner, fire that was fueled by the jet fuel carried on one plane. As the nation watched in horror, firefighters continued to arrive, getting their assignments, and doing their jobs. Time seemed to stop as we watched the first tower collapse, and shortly afterwards, the second tower collapsed. Many, many innocent people lost their lives that day, but this article is about the 343 New York City firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice. While others were doing everything they could to get out, these brave warriors were running in, seeking to save lives and deal with the situation that they had been handed. Just as my crew had seen more in 15 hours fire-wise than we would see in our careers as firefighters, the journey of a New York City firefighter involves things that most other firefighters would only read about or see on the news. On Sept. 11, 2001, it did not matter.Firefighters everywhere were affected by the loss that the FDNY suffered on that incident.
As I write this, tomorrow will be Sept. 11, 2020, the 19th anniversary of that day. There will be remembrances held at Ground Zero in New York City, at the Pentagon, and at a field in Pennsylvania. Nineteen years ago on that date, I attended an impromptu prayer meeting at our church that was attended by 250 people. It was the first and last time that I would see that many people join in prayer for our nation. I will say that our nation needs that level of prayer today, as America is, again, under attack. Many would believe that we were attacked by flesh and blood then and now, but the Bible tells us, in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Our battle is greater than we could ever know, but the battle is the Lord’s, and He is and will always be victorious.
I retired as a lieutenant/paramedic in 2010, from Chesterfield Fire & EMS. I was blessed to live out my dream/career in Chesterfield. On Sept. 11, 2001, 343 careers and lives ended in a moment. My prayer is that God will comfort, bless, and keep the families of some of our nation’s bravest. My dear friend Mickey is still a New York City firefighter, and he is now one of the lieutenants on Rescue 3. He has dedicated his life to serving the citizens of New York City. I pray for my friend as he continues to live out his lifelong dream, although today he and I are grandfathers.
I pray that we will leave our grandchildren a legacy of serving others, no matter what that may cost us individually. Jesus showed us how to live and even how to die. John 15:13 states: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” I pray that our nation will heal and come together as a people that cares more about others than about ourselves. The Coast Guard, the fire service and now being a pastor has allowed me to walk alongside people, in their worst or maybe even their best moments. I remember the first baby I assisted a mother in delivering. I remember marrying the love of my life almost 37 years ago. I remember getting off duty early from the fire station to be with my wife when our son was born. I was blessed to officiate over my son and his precious wife’s marriage. I have been blessed to be Granddaddy to two of the most beautiful grandchildren on this planet. As I think about all that God has done to bless me, I salute the men and women of public safety and our armed forces who put their lives on the line, each and every day. God bless you all. We must never forget!!
