Recalling America's Tragedy

September 11, 2008

The attacks on the World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001 tested the determination of emergency responders well beyond their experience and imagination. As emergency calls poured in,-- New York City firefighters, police and emergency personnel -- whether on or off duty -- rushed to lower Manhattan.Unaware of the impending collapse of the twin towers, their sole focus was to get in and rescue tens of thousands of people.

As those first responders conducted the search and evacuated victims, the intense heat had rapidly weakened and distorted the massive steel structures.In less than 2 hours it was all over. Just after the twin towers collapsed, casualty estimates were in the tens of thousands. With many of New York’s most seasoned rescue personnel missing in the collapses, surviving firefighters took the initiative of breaking workers into teams to begin search and rescue.

Within minutes, emergency and support personnel across the nation responded to New York City’s – call for help. It would become the greatest rescue and recovery mission in the America’s history.

I invite you to read the diary I kept at Ground Zero. Based on a series of emails to my son, who was 10 years old at the time, you'll learn about the men and women who served during one of this nation's most horrifying disasters. It is a story of bravery and dedication, and a nation coming together.

Lou Angeli

Diary: "7 Years Later: Recalling Ground Zero"

Photos: "Ground Zero Imagery"

Video: "Answering The Call"

3 Firefighters Killed in Air Tanker Crash

P2V Tanker operated by Neptune Aviation

RENO (AP) — An air tanker that had been used to drop retardant on a wildfire in the Sierra Nevada crashed after taking off for a flight to another blaze, killing all three crewmembers.
Preliminary witness reports suggested the aircraft had lost part of one engine or a wing after taking off from Reno-Stead Airport, said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane went down about a half-mile from the airport and burst into flame, Reno fire spokesman Steve Frady said.

The twin-engine P2V air tanker owned by Neptune Aviation of Missoula, Mont., had returned to the airport Monday after making one flight over a fire in California's Hope Valley south of Lake Tahoe during the morning, said Marnie Bonesteel, a spokeswoman with the Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators.

The plane crashed after it took off to drop retardant on another fire in California later in the day, she said.

source: AP