April, 2002
Dear Engine 7, Ladder 1,
I am 14 years old and in the 8th grade. I
live in a small town in upstate New York. Nothing has ever happened here that has threatened our
feelings of security, until September 11th. Our town along with everyone else
was suddenly jolted by the terrorism attacks on 9/11/01
In school we watched the documentary 9/11.
After viewing this I realized the far reaching impact of the tragedy on you,
the firemen. I cannot imagine how hard it must have been to concentrate on your
job when people were hitting the ground outside after jumping. All of you
showed a huge amount of courage and compassion toward others. I saw and heard
about firefighters putting others before themselves. Before 9/1 I might have
considered a great athlete a hero, but now I consider the real heroes to be the
firemen and others who risked their lives that day.
Seeing and reading about your conduct and
character has made me rethink my values. I now try to treat people with
kindness and respect. Things that used to be important to me, like family and
friends, are now even more important to me. I have come to realize how
fortunate I am.
I am thankful there were people like you who
were willing to help other people at the expense of your own safety. Thank you!
Sincerely,