14 years after 09/11, I watch very little coverage of that day, I get too angry and sad. But this morning, driving to work, I was listening to the radio, The DJ said they were going to interview a woman who lost her 24 year-old son that day. I reached to turn the dial, having no interest in putting myself through that. But before I could, they said that her son was the "man in the red bandanna" who died saving others that day. I had heard some of that story long ago, so I listened. Her son was a 24 year-old equities trader in the south tower. When the plane hit, he called his mom to tell her he was OK. That was the last they heard from him. Later, several injured survivors, originally trapped high up in the south tower, told a story of a young man wearing a red bandana around his mouth and nose, leading them to safety in bunches, carrying one injured woman on his back. After leading them to safety, he kept going back up to look for more injured strangers who needed help. Those who he rescued never knew the identity of their savior. At the same time, tragically, his parents never knew the story of how he died. Six months after the attack, it all became clear. Here is a 13-minute video of the story, narrated in moving fashion by actor Edward Burns. The streets of heaven are just too crowded with angels from that day.
I can't put myself through angst, but I can muster up the capacity, once a year, to be inspired by this unbelievable, stupifying story. God, I hope I am raising my sons in a similar way.
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