For nine-year-old Collier Willmer of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as for so many children in America, September 11, 2001 meant growing up a little more quickly. Certainly, Collier's mother wished her children hadn't seen the images of the planes crashing into the towers, but as they were traveling, "We couldn't screen them from it. They saw a lot." And what Collier saw … [Read more...] about Collier Willmer: Heart
and Soles of Gold
Irish Heroes
Collier Willmer: Heart
Joe Callan: Fire Chief
Chief Joe Callan, a veteran firefighter from the Bronx, was taking command at the North Tower when the South Tower collapsed. Amidst the terror and confusion, Callan drew widespread respect for the calm demeanor and judgement he displayed following the collapse. He was trapped with his firefighters in the lobby of the North Tower but managed to get to safety as the building … [Read more...] about Joe Callan: Fire Chief
Eamonn Carey:
Construction Worker
Tuesday, September 11 started, unusually, for Kerry man Eamonn Carey, 31, at home in New Jersey waiting for a construction job to start. A committed member and shop steward of Local 608, the most Irish union in New York City, Carey had been working for several weeks in the vicinity of the World Trade Center, ironically on the new Irish Famine Memorial in Battery Park, where he … [Read more...] about Eamonn Carey:
Construction Worker
Father Frank O’Grady:
In God’s Name
Father Frank O'Grady, a U.S. Army chaplain at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, was awarded a medal of heroism for his work following the September 11 attack on the Pentagon.
Fr. O'Grady, who hales from Gurteen, County Sligo, was presented with the Army Commendation Medal for "exceptional meritorious service." He was cited for leadership, dedication to duty and calm professional … [Read more...] about Father Frank O’Grady:
In God’s Name
Henry McDonald: Firefighter
Henry McDonald, a retired battalion chief, spent his last six years with the Fire Department as executive officer (assistant) to First Deputy Commissioner Bill Feehan, He had retired nine months before September 11th and on that day was scheduled to meet Feehan for lunch. The lunch never happened. On September 11th, McDonald saw the attack on the WTC on TV. Regardless of his … [Read more...] about Henry McDonald: Firefighter