NYFD Battalion Chief John Moran (Freeper BCM) Perishes In World Trade Center

NY Daily News ^

[Pharmboy]

How horrible...a loss for FreeRepublic, a great loss for NYC but the greatest loss for his family.

RIP Chief.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Bump to Heaven. We've heard of the loss of two "Chiefs" today. Very sad day. I remember BCM's posts from the days of the post-election mess. It is not surprising that a Freeper would give his life in a noble effort like this. There are some great and brave people who chat on this site. And two of them are gone now. May they shake hands in heaven.

[Dog Gone]

Wow, what a sad day for Free Republic.

We've suffered a couple of big losses.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

This is a very sad day on Free Republic...You never know when its someone's last seconds on earth.Please let every second be a happy one..
God Bless You John and your family....A true HERO..

[Cool Guy]

Can we start another fund raising effort for THIS CHIEF? Thanks.

[Jim Noble]

>>then I have for the NYFD<<

For future reference, although the cops are the NYPD, the firemen are always FDNY, never NYFD.

God bless and keep our brother and hero BCM.

[RasterMaster]

Such a tragic loss.....Many prayers to the families of our fallen heroes.

[Dog]

Dont anyone be sad.... BCM was a hero.

I never meet the man but I am proud to say I knew him..

This just reminds us of the character of Freepers....

[LeeMcCoy]

"Those brave men climbed those stairs all the way to Heaven."

Aw, Pappy...now I'm crying even harder...

Heavenly Father, have mercy on this family. Be a Father to BCM's children, and forever protect them and his dear wife from all harm and suffering. Grant them all Your perfect peace and the assurance they will all meet again very soon. Provide for every need within this family, Dearest Lord. In Jesus' name...Amen!

[DainBramage]

The Last Alarm

The Last Alarm

My father was a fireman.
He drove a big red truck
and when he'd go to work each day he'd say,
"Mother wish me luck."
Then Dad would not come home again 'til sometime the next day.
But the thing that bothered me the most
was things some folks would say,
"A fireman's life is easy, he eats and sleeps and plays,
and sometimes he won't fight a fire for days."
When I first heard these words I was young to understand,
but I knew when people had trouble Dad was there to lend a hand.
Then my father went to work one day and kissed us all goodbye,
but little did we realize that night we would all cry.
My father lost his life that night when the floor gave way below
and I'd wondered why he'd risk his life for someone he did not know.
But, now I truly realize the greatest gift a man can give
is to lay his life upon the line so that someone else might live.
So as we go from day to day and we pray to God above,
say a prayer for your local fireman.
He may save the one's you love.

I salute you BCM, you gave your all.

[Mustang]

"...Two CHIEFS in one day..."

Our souls are sadden. Our spirit is strengthened.

Thank God we all have had the privilege to know these heroic American partiots.

Mustang sends..in tears.

[Jay W]

Two CHIEFS in one day.

My thoughts as well. I had read last night CHIEF Negotiator's thread about trying to get back to active duty in the Marines. May they both rest in peace.

[ThreeOfSeven]

Our condolences to BCM's family and friends.

[Bella_Bru]

Appy, thanks for the post. Our FReeper familyt will mourn him!

[eureka!]

Prayers for a hero and his surviving family. What a tough day here on FreeRepublic...

[First_Salute]

[Gabz]

Words can not express how I feel.

These men and women go to work each and everyday not knowing if they will be returning to their physical home or their spiritual home at the end of their shift. May God looking favorably upon them and the families they may leave behind.

Thank you for the effort you made to determine this information. While I come from 3 generations of New York's Finest, many of my childhood friends became members of New York's Bravest.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Wonderful cartoon, thanks for posting it!

Prayers for the Family are being offered today!

[wideawake]

Fellow FReepers -

I am good friends with Bill Begley, a Wall Streeter who, along with former New York Met Rusty Staub and former New York Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President helped found a charity called the The New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Fund.

This organization has been helping the loved ones of NYC's fallen heroes for years. Bill (who retired to help run it) and the rest of the staff work on a volunteer basis - there is only one paid employee (a receptionist) and the fund has almost no overhead. Close to $0.97 of every $1 contributed goes directly to the families.

The families aren't just given cash and abandoned - financial advisers, attorneys, real estate professionals etc. volunteer their skills and time to help the families recover in the long-term.

If you're wondering where to send donations beside the Red Cross or the Salvation Army, this organization is as reputable and essential. If I'm not mistaken, Mayor Giuliani himself is a trustee.

I'm in touch with Bill to find out whether we FReepers can specifically assist our fallen brother's family in a special way. I know that FReepers from across the country would like to reach out in a personal way to his grieving family. I happily welcome any suggestions or ideas.