Posted on 09/11/2010 9:16:34 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Judson Box has never known exactly how his son, Gary, died on September 11, 2001. But an unexpected find nine years later has given him a glimpse into his son's final hours.
Gary, then 35, had been working as a firefighter in Brooklyn for roughly five years when the terrorists attacked. He did not speak to his father the day of the attack and his body was never recovered, leaving the circumstances of his death a mystery.
On September 11, 2009, Gary's sister, Christine, was visiting the Tribute Center when an employee asked her if she was looking for someone specifically. She mentioned her brother Gary, and the employee showed her to a picture of a firefighter in the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel that had a caption bearing Gary's name.
But it was not Gary. It was a photo of Brian Bilcher, another member of Gary's fire squad who also perished on 9/11.
The discovery compelled Gary's father to dig deeper, clinging to the possibility that there could be a similar picture of his son out there.
Box scoured photo archives of the National 9/11 Museum and the memorial's website, which allows users to upload photos from 9/11 directly to the site.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
A Danish businessman took this photo of Gary Box as he rushed toward the attacks on the World Trade Center
Amazing. What a blessing to this family.
Wow!
Terrific story. So pleased for the family to know what happened.
A beautiful story, but some of the comments by readers are disgusting. Human nature is so perverse.
Yes, crushing to lose a child, but at least, a little bit of...I hate the word closure because I don’t think there is such a thing. But there is no other word. It has to help, just a tiny bit.
They earn their sobriquet as NY’s Bravest everyday.That day they earned it for all time. The Battery Tunnel is a mile long and when it emerges you emerge you are still a half mile form the WTC.These images cannot be hidden away in some archive. They are a story of who we are, and in spite of Obama, who we will be again.
Gary Box was just a kid. So much life still to live. As I look at him, a young man who devoted his life entirely to the preservation of innocent human life, I hate the murderous satanic Islamists with an eternal hatred.
9/11 Truthers....unwitting part of the ememy within...
It’s a heroic picture.
As hard as it is to lose your child, it is hard to imagine a more honorable death.
As Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
What an awesome story. Thanks so much for sharing it!
I’m so happy the family found some small measure of peace from this photo. What a horrendous way to lose a family member or friend ~ so many will never have any idea how exactly their loved one was lost.
Every day, but especially today, I ask God to grant me the peace and fortitude to quash the hatred I have for all things Islam... so far those prayers have not been answered! May those brave soldiers of this holy war who lost their lives 9 years ago - and those who still struggle with the after-effects either mentally or physically remain in God’s grace and love for all eternity. And may God continue to bless George W. Bush and Dick Cheney whose steadfast resolve and leadership protected this nation in the aftermath of the 911 attack.
Yes, if you had to lose a child, you would rather lose them in an honorable way. This man is a hero in addition to being someone’s son. Makes me all the angrier at what happened that day. And that so many people seem to have forgotten.
WoW, indeed. And a heroic picture: A warrior rushing into battle.
Wow. Thanks.
I was blind but now I see.
May all the honored dead rest in peace.
well said,
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