Lest we forget
 

I went to High School many, many years ago with a guy named Carlos Lillo. He was interested in getting into the Emergency Medical Services. Since I was already involved, I steered him in the right direction. A few months later he arrived at the local volunteer ambulance service where I was. I trained him and he became a great EMT. I went on to work in the New York City Emergency Medical Service which later became FDNY EMS. Carlos was quick to follow. I went on to be a Lieutenant and he a Paramedic.

Carlos ran into an old classmate, Cecilia and went on to marry her. She worked for the Port Authority. Three years ago today, shortly after the first plane hit the World Trade Center, Carlos' Medic unit was deployed from Queens to the WTC.

Carlos was very worried about his wife but knew he needed to assist the injured coming out of the towers. Carlos was assigned to the triage area in the plaza. Cecilia remembered what Carlos taught her about emergencies and persevered in getting out of the towers. Carlos was relieved for a break and told a partner he was going to check the 64th floor where Cecilia worked. Moments later the tower collapsed.

Carlos was one of two FDNY EMS Paramedics who died that day along with hundreds of other emergency personnel.

Spending time between the site and funerals became the norm for months.

There were many people I worked with who ran in while others were running out who were never seen again.

They are our heroes and we will never forget them.

I apologize for this post not being airline security related but maybe you may understand my commitment to ensuring something like this never happens again. We all know the imperfections we face and we agree, but I am personally trying to better the agency for Carlos and you.

Thank you, TSAMGR. Although I frequently disagree with your viewpoints, I appreciate the efforts of people such as yourself and Bart (to name just a couple of TSAers on this board) to engage the FF community in a dialogue.

I am sorry about your friend, and for all of the 9/11 victims on this day.

TSAMGR-

Being from NY you were personally impacted by these events more than I. I didn't know anybody directly who died in the attacks, but the entire country (and the vast majority of the civilized world) suffered with those who suffered and mourned with those who mourned that day.

I remember touring the twin towers as a kid. My kids will never have such memories. But that pales in comparison to the kids who only have memories of their mothers and fathers as heros.

I pray we don't forget the lives of the innocent and the sacrifices of the brave that were lost that day. My sympathies to you, your friend's family, and the others personally effected by that tragedy.

A very appropriate post for today; thank you.

I have the highest respect for first responders and the deepest sympathies for all those that lost family and friends on 9/11. I was very fortunate to not be in that group (family member went to dentist instead of destroyed Pentagon office that morning).

Regardless of our disagreements on this board, I think all of us that are Americans (and many others too) support a stronger, freer, better America.

We must never forget what happened on 9/11 or what they tried to do to us or how many sacrificed their lives that day. More people died on 9/11 than at Pearl Harbor, and 9/11 was targeted primarily at civilians.