D.'s campus has two, annual, scholarship fund-raising events a year. For the spring gala they brought in a speaker to help raise funds for First Responders. This will be an endowed scholarship to help students who are, or are working towards a career that involves first response.
Our speaker was Captain Al Fuentes (Ret.) of the F.D.N.Y. He was a first responder to the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy. The second plane flew over his head as he watched it bank and accelerate into the second tower. He was helping civilians out of the crumbled Marriott when the north tower collapsed, causing severe injuries and burying him for over two hours.
We spent two evenings with Captain Fuentes, who is a warm and giving individual. His recollections of 9/11 were heart wrenching and inspirational. He has written a book American By Choice. Of the books he signed and sold at the gala he is donating a portion of the proceeds to our First Responder Scholarship fund.
We were living in Amarillo, Texas on 9/11/01. As Captain Fuentes was bringing his fire boats across the river, watching the second plane fly overhead, I was in my living room watching the horror unfold and praying earnestly for my fellow Americans.
Where were you on 9/11/01?
Pictures from:
sabretache.blogspot.com
mcguirehimself.com
wwment.com
I was at home in southern NJ, watching the horrifying details unfold on television. We lived about 3 hours from NYC then, but it seemed so much closer that day. I will always remember what happened.
ReplyDeleteI was on my way to Bible Study Fellowship when I heard what was beginning to unfold on the Christian radio station. Later at BSF, someone came in, flustered, and said that the tower(s) had collapsed. I'll never forget that day.
ReplyDeleteTeaching high school English, heard from the guy in the room next to mine, but I figured it was a fluke.
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