Firefighter Michael Moran survived September 11th only to discover that his brother, Battalion Chief John Moran, had perished along with 12 firefighters from Mike’s own Ladder 3 and Battalion 6 and about 20 players from the fire department’s football team.
Moran of Rockaway, Queens inspired the nation with his show of spirit when during the fund-raising “Concert for New York” at Madison Square Garden on October 20, he declared, “Osama Bin Laden — in the spirit of the Irish people, you can kiss my royal Irish ass.” He took off his helmet and added, “I live in Rockaway and this is my face.” Moran’s defiance in the face of his grief turned him into a folk hero and provided inspiration for “The Ballad of Mike Moran — The Fireman’s Song” written by Doug Cogan and Christopher Storc. ♦
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