In Memory of...

 

I still remember driving over the GWB to ground zero early in the morning. Then back hpme to New Jersey about 14-17 hours later on a weekend evening. The kind, friendly, caring, firefighters,  police officers, paramedics and those volunteers from all over the U.S. and Canada too that I met as I walked to ground zero, worked and walked back to my car usually a mile or so away. The last day at night a NYFD firefighter saw me carrying my therapy chair backpack and a bag of therapy items.  I had another mile to walk. He was so tall, the firefighting gear he wore made him look even taller. He was in his late 30s. He asked, "You leaving?" I replied l, "Yes." He responded, "I saw you earlier working.  Let me help you. Where's your car?" I was astonished. He stopped me and took my backpack and therapy chair off my shoulders and hoisted them up on his shoulders. We walked and talked at 10pm for 20 minutes or so to just blocks before my car. Then other firefighter had this golf cart like vehicle,  the firefighter commandeered his buddy. He loaded my stuff on to the back of the little golf-cart like vehicle. It was Lou. I got to know Lou over the weekends I had worked at ground zero. He was an older firefighter of about age 50. He lost most of the firefighters from his firehouse.  He proceeded to tell me jokes as he drove me to my car the rest of the way that night.---Jody-Lynn Reicher