story116.xml
Title
story116.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2002-03-03
911DA Story: Story
On September 14, 2001 I had to travel from Boston to NYC for a business meeting. With no air travel options, I went by train and had two very moving encounters with firefighters that day.
First, while waiting for the train home in Penn Stattion, a column of firefighters arrived by train and was heading to Ground Zero. As they cross the lobby of Penn Station, everyone stopped and applauded them for as long as they were in sight.
Later on the train home, I stood in line in the Cafe Car with a group of firefighters from East Providence RI heading home for their city shift after several days at Ground Zero. As we stood in line, one of the firefigheters noticed a photo mural in the AmTrack Cafe car---a picture of the lower Manhattan skyline with the World Trade Center Towers visible and prominent in the picture. Immediately, these tough fire figthers all developed tears in their eyes--so moved by the reminder of where they had been...and where they were going to return as soon as their city shifts were done.
First, while waiting for the train home in Penn Stattion, a column of firefighters arrived by train and was heading to Ground Zero. As they cross the lobby of Penn Station, everyone stopped and applauded them for as long as they were in sight.
Later on the train home, I stood in line in the Cafe Car with a group of firefighters from East Providence RI heading home for their city shift after several days at Ground Zero. As we stood in line, one of the firefigheters noticed a photo mural in the AmTrack Cafe car---a picture of the lower Manhattan skyline with the World Trade Center Towers visible and prominent in the picture. Immediately, these tough fire figthers all developed tears in their eyes--so moved by the reminder of where they had been...and where they were going to return as soon as their city shifts were done.
Collection
Citation
“story116.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed December 21, 2025, https://www.911digitalarchive.org/items/show/15927.