US

Poignant Moment: 9/11 Fire Truck Lowered Into Ground Zero Site Memorial

NEW YORK (The Blaze/AP) — A fire truck that rushed to the aid of victims on 9/11 returned to the World Trade Center site Wednesday as it was lowered like a huge flag-draped coffin into exhibition space for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

The truck was from the city fire department’s Ladder Company 3, which helped civilians escape from the trade center’s north tower on Sept. 11, 2001. The vehicle had sped to the twin towers from its firehouse in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood with 11 firefighters aboard – all of whom died when the towers collapsed.

A crane lowered the 60,000-pound truck, shrouded in a white protective covering and decorated with the flags of the Fire Department of New York and the United States, 70 feet into the site as family members of firefighters who died on 9/11 wept, dozens of firefighters saluted and bagpipers played the national anthem.

9/11 Fire Truck Lowered into Ground Zero Site Memorial

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, FDNY Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano and about 100 members of the FDNY, including all of the members of the current Ladder Company 3, stood solemnly during the ceremony. The company’s current fire truck, parked nearby on the site, raised its ladder in salute as the crane moved the shrouded truck to an opening in the roof of the museum, which is in the bowels of the site.

The under-construction One World Trade Center skyscraper towered over the ceremony, its mirror-like skin shimmering under the hot sun. All around were signs of rebirth and reconstruction: Cranes hovered over the site and construction workers in safety helmets milled around as dust choked the air.

To some, the ceremony was like a second funeral for the Ladder Company 3 firefighters who died nearly 10 years ago.

“It’s almost like saying goodbye again,” said Carolyn Brown, 47, of Westbury, N.Y., whose brother Patrick “Paddy” Brown led the firefighters of Ladder Company 3 on 9/11. “It’s also more closure.”

She dabbed her teary eyes with a tissue during the ceremony, and afterward said she hoped that museum visitors who see the truck will be reminded of the sacrifice that her brother and his fellow first responders made.

“They gave their lives for everybody else here,” she said, adding that simply seeing the damage to the fire truck would likely elicit a physical reaction. “When they see that, it’s going to mean more. They will see it and feel it.”

Maureen Dewan-Gilligan, whose 35-year-old brother, Gerard Dewan, was a firefighter with Ladder 3, also hoped visitors to the museum would react viscerally.

“I would like them to remember that the fire engine was crushed in a heartbeat,” she said.

Michael Moran, a member of Ladder Company 3 who got relieved from duty on Sept. 10, 2001, and whose brother died on 9/11, said bringing the rig back to the trade center was part of the healing process.

“I think it’s a nice tribute to the guys of Ladder 3,” he said. He also hoped people would see the rig as a symbol of the firefighters’ sacrifices. “They gave up all their tomorrows on Sept. 11.”

NY Daily News provides a moving video of the fire truck being lowered into the 9/11 memorial and community’s response:

Cassano said museum visitors will be able to learn the story of how members of the FDNY did their job on that day.

“They didn’t ask any questions. They went to those buildings, not knowing who they were going to rescue,” he said. “They knew people were in trouble. Unselfishly they gave their lives.”

Joe Daniels, president of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, said the fire truck is emblematic of what first responders did on 9/11.

“This will be the authentic vehicle that will tell that story,” he said.

The fire truck had been stored in a climate-controlled room at a hanger and was escorted to the site by the current Ladder 3 truck. The cab of the truck was destroyed in the towers’ collapse and its main body and ladders were damaged and contaminated.

The memorial plaza opens to the public on Sept. 12, a day after the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack. The museum will open next year.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks on the trade center, the deadliest single event for emergency responders in the U.S.

The truck will join the remains of other emergency vehicles at the museum, including from the New York Police Department, the Port Authority Police Department and FDNY.

Comments (58)

1 2
  • machine1600
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 7:22pm

    When will the real 9-11 Domestic terrorists be Hung ? That is a most important question.
    They are still laughing at what they accomplished. ( Hint ) They are not Muslim terrorists that killed 3000 americans.
    Can you guess ? Their names start with G and end in B !!!!!!! Whew thats a tuff one..
    The British and the Bilderbergs had plan this for a long time, with the help of our so called leaders. All that to have reason for war. Sick….

    Report Post »  
    • 4blackhorses
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 9:03pm

      In your fantasy didn’t you forget one little thing that seems important to you of your ilk? The nuke explosions were secondary in responsiblity for bringing the Twin Towers down? And, gee, I think the rest of the people responsible for killing 3,000 of our countrymen will be brought to hanging when we patriots get rid of the liberal judges and bleeding hearts such as yourself and they aren’t the ones you have in your blissfull mind.

      Report Post »  
    • over60andlost
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:13am

      You are such a low life. How dare you? Would you like us all to chip and get you a one way ticket to any Muslim country of your choice?? Be glad to put in my donation.

      Report Post »  
    • *************
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 2:44am

      I guess Glenn Beck’s delusional nutty conspiracy Theories have rubbed off on you! Beck said today
      China is going to take over the US West Coast or and the sky is falling too! LOL

      Report Post » SnakeOilSucks  
    • Napkin
      Posted on July 23, 2011 at 8:52am

      I for one could care less about the 911 memorial. Shep always has a segment updating the site, with solemn music in the background. 911 was bad but life goes on. The people who died that day are no more important than anyone else who died on any other day. Their families already got their windfall from our govt. (money they didn’t deserve), so they need to shut up and go away.

      Report Post »  
  • aurora53
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 6:38pm

    Remember the Twin Towers and who brought them down. We don’t need a mosque near Ground Zero or anywhere in the U.S. They have only come here to take over our country. And, remember Bloomsberg, the closet muslim, and all of his cronies!

    Report Post »  
  • j_blaze14
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 5:02pm

    what a crazy 10 years. we never knew what being terrorized would be like. they are winning, we are letting this cultural diversity crap seep into the fabric of our country so they can multiply among us. i still stand by the fact that not all muslims are terrorists but almost all terrorists are muslims. we should have just dropped a big bomb on them on 9/12 and forgot about it, told the media to not report it (wait, the president didn‘t control the media till 09’, right, forgot). they are muslims until they blow up.

    Report Post »  
  • Grapeknutz
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:54pm

    Ten years ago………unreal…….

    Report Post »  
    • 1proudAmerican
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 6:20pm

      Remember all the American flags that were flown after 9/11? How many do you see now?

      Report Post »  
    • mensaman62
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 6:31pm

      @ 1PROUD…mine is flying outside my door!

      GOD BLESS AMERICA!

      Report Post » mensaman62  
  • Akron1950
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:51pm

    Like this is going to help us not to forget, give this country another ten years, and the Muslims will remind us in one way or another!

    Report Post » Akron1950  
  • spuggylips
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:28pm

    wait a minute, shouldn‘t y’all be on here calling them commie union thugs, like you do on every other police/fire fighter story?

    Report Post »  
    • wti6564
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:11pm

      Remember: “Engage brain before putting mouth in gear”. I don’t know of any normal person that has a problem with the union “members”. The union “Leadership” who spout off about “social justice” or continue to promote class warfare, I know many that have a problem with them.

      Report Post » wti6564  
    • Tony Cat
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:33pm

      Well said 6564. I have many relatives & friends that are Police & Firemen. They’re mostly conservative, hard-working, God-fearing men & women. And most of them Hate their union leadership being in bed with the new socialist Dems.

      So F U for pretending that conservatives hate fire & police. You know D@MN well that our problem is with Union Leadership!… not a single union member.

      Report Post » Tony Cat  
  • Mary Just
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 1:56pm

    I had to laugh when II heard that idiot mayor Bloomberg say that the terrorists wont take our freedom away when its closet Dems like himself and the federal Government who has taken most of them away. I remember thinking how cowardly it was not to rebuild it exactly as it was.

    Report Post »  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 11:41am

    All this caused by a group of thankless muslims who hate our country and want to rule her well they have their president what is next

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
    • 9thGenerationpatriot
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 12:33pm

      In a moment like this, can we just set aside debating why this tradgedy happened and remember the number 343. 343 is the number of first responders who gave their lives doing what we should all do, thinking of others first, serving our fellow man.

      Report Post »  
    • riseandshine
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 9:56pm

      9/11 was a false flag operation.

      Report Post » riseandshine  
  • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 11:21am

    The story of 9/11 is that people hate. People hate freedom. People hate liberty. People hate America and Americans because we (ostensibly) represent freedom and liberty to the world.

    Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
    • uma
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:41pm

      Those aliens who hate America and its freedom loving Americans can leave America any time. Why are you here? You can go anywhere outside America . It’s an open world out there. Please yourself and know that there is nothing like the beautiful America any where else on this earth, where freedom rings..

      Report Post »  
  • sWampy
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 11:03am

    It saddens me so much we didn’t escort all the Muslims out of this great nation, put a no fly, no boat/no travel ban on the entire mid-east, dust off our feet, and rebuild the towers as they were as they were. Letting these animals win, and stay here living in the land of the once free is sickening.

    Report Post »  
    • mdb749
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 1:57pm

      And to make matters worse, NYC is going to allow the same people who attacked us on 9/11 to build a mosque within eyesight of the World Trade Center. We are so stupid.

      Report Post » mdb749  
    • libbylindy
      Posted on July 22, 2011 at 9:35am

      I completely agree with everything you said. I, too, am disgusted that the NY beaurocrats are allowing a mosque there, but I am just as disgusted they are allowing mosques anywhere in the US. The ground zero mosque will always be a symbol for us to remember just who it was that took down the towers and the thousands that went with it. It will make me always remember why we need to fight against these radical people. If you think that all muslims are not radical, then you haven’t talked with any of those who have left the muslim religion and have broken free to tell the real story. And for those who have been caught up in it and joined them, thinking there is anything peaceful in their ideology, then those ones will be in a very precarious situation when the real muslim agenda is revealed. Then they will have their eyes opened – too late.

      Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 10:48am

    That is all well and good…but how long will it take to get both towers up and running? We can’t do anything anymore. In the 30′s….we put up the talles building in the world at the time, (the Empire State bldg), in a year and a half. Now…with all the lawyers and the environmentalists, and the unions…..it has been 10 years and not even one of the bldgs. is finished.

    Report Post »  
    • fdmike
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 11:29am

      what you have to understand is it took almost a decade for all the red tape and bs to get out of the way, but theyve only been actually constructing these buildings for a short period of time and I and everyone i know here in new york are amazed at the quickness of the progress…theyre all going up at once.It is beautiful.

      Report Post »  
    • gosutag
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 12:07pm

      Yup FDMike is right. I live here as well and it‘s amazing at how fast they’re putting it up.

      Report Post » gosutag  
  • Bealzobama
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 8:44am

    Listen to Bloomberg talk….He’s part of the reason these rug huggers are building the mosque.

    Report Post » Bealzobama  
    • SShink
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 12:03pm

      …and not allowing the rebuild of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. What a DICK.
      What do you expect from a hypocrite that disregards the laws (that he was elected under) and goes for a 3rd term.

      Report Post »  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 8:43am

    One world… one government.

    One World Trade Center.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
  • notmeatglennbeckdotcom
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 8:23am

    Hasn’t Bloomberg commissioned the bridge over to the Mosque project yet so people can go from one to the other easily?

    As proud as I am that this is getting done, I am furious that two towers are not being rebuilt on that site and that it wasn‘t done before a bullet went through Bin Laden’s eye.

    Report Post »  
  • pavepaws
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 8:20am

    Bless all.

    Report Post »  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 7:31am

    September 11, 2001 I was on patrol with my partner when we heard that something was happening in New York city. We drove to San Jacinto mall and went to the Radio Shack store and watched the whole thing unfold on ten TV’s. I can’t really describe the feeling I had. I don’t think I ever felt those feelings before. And I hope I’ll never feel them again. Bless all that lost their lives that day. And God shield the children of tomorrow from the evil in the world.

    Report Post » Rayblue  
    • loriann12
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 11:51am

      I’m sure we all remember where we were, just like the shooting of a President. I was homeschooling my special needs son, when my husband called from work. The first one I thought was an accident, thought how terrible, and went on. When he called and said another one hit it, I knew it wasn’t an accident and school was over as I sat glued to the TV. I was near St. Louis at the time, and I imagined what I would do if the arches were suddenly taken out. It was part of the skyline that people saw everyday. It gave me a sense of empathy for those who lived in New York, but were not even part of it. I can’t even imagine how the survivors felt. My prayers to them.

      Report Post »  
  • GreatGu
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 7:23am

    Our Pearl Harbor, we must never, ever forget!!! God Bless all those that perished on 9/11 and all of the families that were and still are effected. We have only one more opportunity to save this Great Republic from Liberal Maniacs and Progressive Communists; turn out in mass for our God Given Right to vote for representatives and a president that understands what the Founders created for us. May God Bless the United States of America!

    Report Post »  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 4:53am

    Liberalism is a disease.

    Liberalism. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
    http://neuezeitgeist.wordpress.com

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
    • Mainer forever
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 10:31am

      Love the pics. (Kinda gruesome the pic of the Jim Jones kool-aid) However…gets the point across.

      Report Post » Mainer forever  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:47am

    I’ve been to New York dozens of times. In the good old days (before 9-11 and Obama) as I was driving on the I-78 New Jersey Turnpike Extension through Jersey City, headed towards NYC, the first sign of NYC you could see were always those twin towers reaching into the sky! Man, those things were tall! They symbolized all that was OK with America, including our economy and technology.

    Then came 9-11, and its aftermath. I could see smoke rising off the WTC site for months. Now, whenever I make that drive, I sure do miss those twin towers. They’re just gone, and we can really feel it. I miss those twin towers. Now, you can’t even see Manhattan or the Bronx until you get up on top of the bridge over the port in Jersey City. I still remember those towers, rising up in the distant haze. What a sight! I wish every American could have seen those towers then. Maybe we’d all be a little more American and less liberal.

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:37am

    I find it a little distasteful that Mayor Bloomberg was on hand. After all, he’s so much in favor of the Islamic Conquest Mega Mosque a couple of blocks away!

    Note to stupid liberals:
    If somebody flies a plane into the Ground Zero Mosque, maybe I’ll dance in the street the way the Palestinians (your heroes!) did on September 11, 2001.

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • Fina Biscotti
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:03am

    One World Trade Center vs. “Freedom Towers”……somehow Freedom Towers makes more sense.

    Report Post »  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 9:43am

      I thought it was called the Freedom Tower. I didn’t know it was being called the One World Trade Center. That sounds like cr*p. We aren’t one world. The towers were taken down by that part of the world we don’t WANT to be part of.

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:38am

    I still object to any Islamic building being built in the vicinity of the 09-11-01 memorial. The Muslims need to respect the damages that were caused by the outlandish members of their religion. Their building needs to be built blocks away from the former World Trade Center. Two blocks away, is not far enough. The place where they want to build, actually had the landing gear from one of the ill-fated planes, crash on it’s roof. It’s disgusting that the Muslims are so insensitive to the sensibilities of the American People.

    Report Post »  
    • pschlentz
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:43am

      Hear, Hear Diane TX!

      Report Post »  
    • SavingtheRepublic.com
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 3:11am

      ^____^____^
      I couldnt agree more. Yes they like any religion have a right to build but not there, most people really dont understand the real story why they want a mosque built there. Its symbolic for Islam a mosque on/ at/ near Ground Zero is the equivalent of planting a flag on conquered land or taking it as a trophy. Whatever excuse they come up with is just that an excuse!

      The Koran (Surah18:21): “Construct a building over them”: Their Lord knows best about them: those who prevailed over their affair said, “Let us surely build a place of worship over them.”

      Ground Zero is hallowed ground keep Islam far away.
      http://SavingtheRepublic.com

      Report Post » SavingtheRepublic.com  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 11:18am

      Dittos!!!

      Just look at the Temple Mount.

      They have done this for CENTURIES!

      The SILENCE of the “good” muslims SPEAKS VOLUMES!!

      They endorse these actions by not speaking out against them.

      We need newer/higher/better standards for what we call a religion, and thereby afford Constitutional protections.

      What a freakin MESS we have gotten into, with all the political correctness!!

      Gimme a BREAK!!

      If you go around MURDERING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, it is PROTECTED because it is a “RELIGION”???

      How about a new religion? One that says we have to eliminate islam or we won’t go to heavan. One that says only the socialists(TAKERS) pay taxes. One that requires everyone to fend for themselves, to be self sufficient. One that guarntees the freedoms of men, with which they are created by God.
      Does this new religion get Constitutional protections?

      What in the HELL???

      We have DECADES of work ahead of us, teaching our children the TRUTH and arming them with knowledge and the ability to reason for themselves and to fend for themselves.

      EPHESIANS 6:14-17 – “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • woodypynes
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:21am

    speechless

    Report Post » woodypynes  
    • pschlentz
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:40am

      God Bless the Firemen and Our Country…. Protect it from those that wish to destroy it or perish into the heap of history…

      Report Post »  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:13am

    GOD Bless our Heroes .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
  • Alex2245
    Posted on July 21, 2011 at 2:10am

    MEANWHILE the United Nations has said they may change their helmets from blue to green and use their so called peacekeeping forces in any nation that has problems with CLIMATE CHANGE!

    You gotta see it to believe it
    http://theintelhub.com/2011/07/20/un-may-switch-blue-helmets-to-green-then-launch-climate-change-peacekeeping-wars/

    Report Post »  
    • Aequitas
      Posted on July 21, 2011 at 7:39am

      How does that have anything to do with this article.

      Report Post »  
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