Remembering Our Heroes: The Brave People on 9/11
There were many individuals that performed heroic acts during and after the tragedies
of 9/11. These heroic acts were both large and small and were performed by regular
individuals as well as those with special training. These individuals were unconcerned
with their own safety or comforts, but went out instead to help others escape the
buildings, prevent another attack, or helped to clear away dead bodies, rubble,
and dust after the attack. Their stories, like the incident itself, should be remembered.
Welles Crowther was 24 years old, living in Upper Nyack, New York. He worked on
the 104th floor of the South tower. He took charge and directed individuals
to stairways, helping those trapped to get out. He did not think of himself but
only of helping others. Dozens of individuals have attributed that without this
young man they would not have made it out of the tower. Individuals remember Welles
due to the red bandana over his mouth and nose. Many of these individuals did not
know the name of this man until the New York Times ran an article that described
Welles. Unfortunately Welles did not make it out of the tower as his body was discovered
in March 2002, but many remember his courageous acts.
The firefighters that went to the towers to fight the fires and help individuals.
Of these fire fighters were volunteers, newly trained fire fighters and those that
were experienced in fighting fires. Many of those working within the FDNY that day
were trapped within rubble and died when the towers collapsed. More than 343 firefighters
perished at the World trade center. More than half the members of Ladder 3 were
lost, many were not even on duty that day but came in to help.
Some unsung heroes of 9/11 are the rescue dogs. These dogs were trained specifically
to search through rubble and find individuals. The dogs do not wear booties as they
need their claws for traction and in many cases crushed glass hurt their paws. Many
dogs lost their footing and were badly injured or died. The dust and smoke irritated
the dog’s eyes. These dogs were critical to saving those buried in the towers
and rubble and many people owe their lives to the rescue dogs. More than 100 trained
rescue dogs were sent to ground zero and worked for as much as 10 days finding survivors
and bodies among the rubble.
Several passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 attempted to stop the hijackers.
Their deeds were made known through phone calls to family as well as through the
black box recordings. These individuals called friends and family and asked them
to call authorities. While the exact actions of these individuals are unknown it
is thought that their actions were key to having the plane crash in a field rather
than into the Pentagon or another building. These individuals knew in the end that
they were going to die and decided to take action rather than let the hijackers
stay in control.
Special Agent Leonard Hatton responded immediately to the emergency situation when
he saw fire and smoke from the World Trade Center. While everyone else was trying
to leave the building, he was going in, helping those that were hurt or trapped.
Hatton radioed the FBI of what was going on and then pitched in to help. He was
a volunteer firefighter and a Marine. He joined the FBI to help fight crime and
died when the towers collapsed.
Many low wage workers went into ground zero in the days following 9/11 and began
clearing up the dust and debris. Much of this dust turned out to be hazardous to
these individuals health as many have developed asthma and high blood pressure.
Many of these individuals were undocumented immigrants that came in to clean up
the dust and stop it from blowing up and away. These individuals tend to be forgotten
when others think of the heroes of 9/11, but without their help, many more individuals
may have been effected by the dust and these individuals deserve to be recognized
and remembered.
Many women were heroes during this time. Women that lost loved ones in 9/11 were
the focal point of the news and media. But there was also many women that acted
heroically to help others. These women include rescue workers, nurses, doctors,
chaplains, NYPD officers, FDNY officers and others that simply brought food and
supplies to those that needed it or helped friends and neighbors that were left
homeless. Some women that died in the Pentagon or when the towers collapsed include
Lt. Col. Karen Wagner, Samantha Allen, Rosemary Chapa, Beth Ann Quigley and Arlene
Babkitis to name a few.
Learn more about the heroes of 9/11:
Honoring the Heroes of 9/11 – On the 10th
anniversary of 9/11 many get together to remember those that died during Flight
93 and in New York City.
Welles Crowther – A young man that worked in the tower
and helped many individuals escape by taking charge and providing direction to those
that needed help.
FDNY Ladder 3 – More than
half of those that worked at Ladder 3 died in the towers, hear about their stories
and how the FDNY Company is fairing today.
Rescue Dogs of 9/11 – Many specially trained dogs
were brought into ground zero to search for those trapped in the buildings and rubble.
5 Heroes to Remember – Discover the stories of 5 individuals
that were heroes during the 9/11 attacks.
9/11 Health Bill – A health bill was passed offering care to those
that worked to clean up the rubble and those that were injured or hurt during these
attacks.
Unsung Heroes of 9/11 – Many low wage workers cleaned
up the dust after 9/11 and were largely ignored when people recall those heroes
from this day.
Female 9/11 First Responders – Discover those women
heroes that were largely forgotten among the other heroes and individuals that risked
their lives to help others.
United Heroes
of Flight 93 – Those individuals that attempted to take action in
the few minutes before flight 93 crashed.
Heroes of
September 11 – Short biographies of those victims that died but helped
others.
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