Posted on 09/21/2001 2:17:27 PM PDT by Silly
Some fire fighters in midtown Manhattan would like to thank an Ohio man who helped them with their rescue efforts at Ground Zero. The trouble is, they don't know who he is.
This week I visited Engine 8, Ladder 2, the fire station at 51st Street in midtown Manhattan, between Lexington and Third.
When I mentioned that my Ohio brother, and ex-cop, was in town volunteering, a fireman named Steve Riccio lit up. "Where in Ohio is he from? We met a great guy from Ohio, who showed up to work with us on the second day of the disaster, but he disappeared before we could thank him. He didn't have a place to stay overnight, and by the time we had found him one, he was gone."
His crew was so impressed with this Ohio man, they asked me to track him down. This is all they know:
· He's a firefighter Captain from Ohio who showed up to help the second day, Wednesday, September 12.
· He was about 45 years old, about 5' 10" or 11", with jet black hair and a drooping mustache.
· The man worked all day, but had no place to stay that night. When the NYC firemen learned that local hotels had offered to lodge volunteers, they looked for this man, but he was gone.
These guys were very disappointed they couldn't do more for an anonymous Ohioan who had sacrificed his time, his effort and his safety to lessen the burden of their horrific rescue. They were impressed with him and grateful for his help.
Yes, there are probably thousands of such stories, men and women who crossed paths, bonding forever in the solemn duties of the World Trade Center rescue and recovery, who just as anonymously vanished like angels. But that doesn't make this volunteer less important.
If you know this Fire Captain with jet black hair, there are some people here in the Big Apple who would like to thank him properly.
Steve Riccio's fire station lost ten men in the tower collapse on September 11. Fire fighters been searching all week for survivors, and haven’t found one. Perhaps finding an Ohio man to thank him might mean something to the men of Engine 8, Ladder 2.
And while I am here, allow me to thank all those ironworkers who drove here from Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, etc. to help out in what was originally thought to be a rescue operation. I read one story of a Michigan ironworker who got in his pick-up and drove all night then worked all day. What a country, America.
I will try to send this to the major newspapers in all three Ohio cities.
Here's a bump for our heros.
bttt
One man from Ohio drives to NY to help ...
And a good bunch of guys in NY want to thank him for his help.
Maybe the world ain't so bad afterall. I hope the spirit that's been rekindled in this country lasts a good long time. Let us never forget.
We live in a great country because its people are great.
I've never had bad food at Virgil's, and our meal was just fine... but the ribs couldn't compare to what you and I had. Those were the meatiest things I've seen in a long while. You'll have to come back.
Still in Manhattan, wearing a porkpie and grinnin', and just being,
Real quick -- what are the three big cities in Ohio: Cincinatti, Columbus and what else?
I'm going to send this story to their newspapers.
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