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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLetter to me from a 9/11 first responder, dated Oct. 4, 2001.
That person is my son, who (unbeknownst to me at the time) was a first responder on 9/11).
He was writing to thank me for my cash contribution to his work as a volunteer at a relief supply station handling the overwhelming amount of contributions of supply needs from all over the country to help the rescue workers.
His work involved unloading the trucks, separating those supplies needed at Ground Zero from those which were not but could be used elsewhere.
Among those he listed: respirators, boots, hard hats, clothes, food, water, medicine, tools.
finding out where these supplies could best be used;
shipping those items directly to homeless shelters and other appropriate charities;
relocating "our original location into the official supply depot in Pier 40."
distributing needed provisions to the vehicles entering the disaster zone, and to the exhausted workers leaving the zone ("usually bottled water, Gatorade, and and first aid material -- we also cheer them on endlessly." )
He emphasized that all were volunteers, one woman coming all the way from California to help out, another had driven from Montana to do what she could.
He enclosed photos (which I cannot find but did save).
He mentioned a visit from the "Mayor's office for the first time" briefly. He didn't say Giuliani himself was there but those who were "expressed gratitude for filling a void they themselves were unable to entirely meet until recently."
My son was too circumspect to say outright that the Mayor's response was lame. He did not mention any visit by Trump (he probably wouldn't have recognized him anyway).
He took time out of his schedule as a student at Brooklyn Law School to do this. His work today with the Brooklyn DA's office still involves seeking justice, but that is for another post of mine blasting deBlasio.
Bayard
(21,805 posts)Kudo's to you and your son.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)His little boy looks just like him when he was that age! It's amazing.
I can't wait to tell him what a hero is daddy is...
Karadeniz
(22,279 posts)H2O Man
(73,324 posts)Thank you for sharing this with us today. Much appreciated.
I like your son.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)He plays rhythm guitar with a group that meets downtown on weekends to jam (his wife sings and she's great).
Yeah, he's the best!
H2O Man
(73,324 posts)are huge Mets fans. They used to get me Mets t-shirts, which I gladly wore. Second only to the Yankees, in my book! (grin)
You've done well!
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)It's kinda fun!
Fritz Walter
(4,281 posts)Especially, I wish him good health.
I worked in the Lower Manhattan hot zone a month after the incident. Was there for three weeks.
Please tell him to stay strong and healthy. And encourage him to take full advantage of the responder health programs in place. And to seek help (medical, psychological, financial) as need be.
He is not alone here.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)was what they needed, he avoided a lot of the toxic fumes. I will have to ask him.
I hope you are OK.
Raine
(30,540 posts)you did a good job as a parent.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)get sucked into it. He was little but I thought it absolutely necessary to get out and march against that war. I got involved in lots more protests, including for women's rights, and so he saw this idea of justice being fought for in real time. There was lots going on politically when he was growing up...