story977.xml

story977.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-08-06

I am the wife of a New York City Firefighter who resonded to the WTC on 9/11. He was supposed to come home after working a 24 hour shift, but like all the others, stayed to help. I called him at the firehouse as soon as the second plane hit. He told me he did not know if he was going to what is now called "ground zero". At 11:00 I drove to the firehouse where there were 50 to 75 firefighters, mostly from New Jersey who had volunteered to help. None of them knew my husband. He was not there, nor was the Engine or Rescue truck. I then picked up my son from school and went home to wait. From ground zero, he finally called me at 5:00pm, it was then I knew he was alive. He gave me a list of men who were with him and asked me to call their wives. He called me again at 11:30 pm still from ground zero, and again at 2:30 am from the firehouse telling me he would be sleeping there. A 1/2 hour later he walked thru my front door and I ran to him, crying, both of us. He kissed his mother, went to our sons room, who has cp, and kissed him gently while he slept. He then got a change of clothes and went back to the firehouse. He came home on 9/13, the next evening, and while I watched him sleep, words came to me...

Always Hope: 9/13/01

I sat alone in silent prayer for your safe return,
the phone it rang time and again, twas not your voice i heard.
But those of loved ones far and near,
I had no news for them,
I asked them all to pray for you,
they said "of course" again.
"Please Lord bring him home to me we have so much to do,
please let me kiss his lips once more and let him kiss mine too".
We sat together hoping, your mother, son and I,
watching closely to the news, don't want to say good-bye.
I jumped each time the phone rang, and when it was your voice, I cried and fell straight to my knees, your cried,
you had no choice.
I followed your instructions to telephone the wives, and tell them that their mans OK, with each of them I cried.
"They're blocks away from danger" I told them like you said,
"they're all together working, much work to do ahead".
Lord I know you heard me he's home with me its true,
the hours they dragged on and on, exactly 42!
But for your fallen brothers, I will always pray,
"Please Lord keep them by your side, forever, day by day.
God must have known I needed you, I'll thank him all my life
You are a brave and dedicated man, and I, a fireman's wife.