9/11: 15 Years Later

      15 years ago today Americans were given the shock of the millenium: Arab terrorists guided 3 commercial passenger jets into the World Trade Center buildings in New York City, and one into the Pentagon in northern Virginia.   Another crashed before it, too could add to the carnage.  These acts were well planned by Osama bin Laden, the Saudi turned terrorist, who subsequently was executed by US Navy SEALS on orders from President Barack Obama.
     More than 2500 innocent civilians died as passengers aboard the aircraft or occupants of the 3 buildings.  343 NYC firefighters died doing their jobs at the site.   A memorial now occupies the site along with a new building.   The memories are still fresh for thousands of family members of those murdered by those insane Islamist terrorists.
      The New York City Fire Department will never forget that day, nor will any firefighter on duty in the USA forget the sacrifices of their fallen comrades.   All firefighters will have a special place in their memories for all Arabs, Islamists, and terrorists of any stripe who follow in the footsteps of these killers.
      Does anybody remember the story of Rick Rescorla, a vice president of security at Morgan Stanley?  He guided hundreds to safety down the stairwell of one of the towers.   He could have saved himself but went back to see if he forgot somebody who was lost inside the stairwell, now filled with smoke and dust.  He died in this final effort.   His story was told by author James B. Stewart in The Heart of a Soldier, (Simon & Schuster).  Rescorla fought in Vietnam, although a British citizen at the time.  He proved himself a hero back then, long before he went back for one last sweep.