A Family of Firefighters at Ground Zero

We were all one family. Many of us had never met before, and most of us will never see each other again. But we came together when it counted most.

Ground Zero, New York City, N.Y. (Sept. 17, 2001) -- An aerial view shows only a small portion of the scene where North Tower of the World Trade Center (1 WTC) collapsed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Photographer's Mate Eric J. Tilford

(SALEM, Ore.) - Whenever there is a major event in your life, there should always be one constant: your family. They don’t have to be direct relations. They can be college or high school buddies, sorority sisters or fraternity brothers. They can be your neighbors down the street. They can be your golf partner, or your co-workers. All that matters is that they are close to you and love you.

Another family is the fire service. I am a proud member of that family, having begun my career as a volunteer firefighter in a small town in New York while still in high school. On September 11th, my family experienced a loss that no family should ever have to endure. Ever. We lost 343 members of our family in one terrible morning.

In the following months, many of us descended on New York City, offering to do anything needed. Some of us dug at the site, others brought engines and ladders in to cover firehouses in NYC.

Many of us started raising funds, often totaling in the tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. We wrote letters and sent emails. We wore our colors proudly, and bought memorial shirts, flags and stickers: proclaiming our love and support.

We also grieved. We attended memorials in our own communities. We went down to the firehouse to be with each other. We gave our spouses a stronger hug or a longer kiss, and spent more time with our children. We silently sat alone with our thoughts, each experiencing the event in our own way.

This past week I went back to NYC with some members of my fire department, to support our brothers and sisters at the 1st anniversary of this horrific event.

Before the sun rose, we drove into The City, wearing our freshly pressed uniforms. When we arrived at Ground Zero that morning, people were milling all around the site.

We saw police officers and firefighters from all over the country and the world. We expected to be directed to a staging area, to participate in a large procession. No one seemed to know where to go. We wandered around the site for over an hour.

Eventually we ended up with a group of other firefighters from around the country at Vesey and West Streets. As the proceedings started, we realized that there was no procession for us to be in. We could barely hear the opening speeches as the loud speakers were not pointed in our direction.

Even though we couldn’t hear, we stood as a family. Someone passed out small flags, and we waved them in a sea of red, white and blue. We looked at each other’s patches, and commented on how far many of us had traveled. With each breeze a new name drifted across the street, listing another soul lost.

Eventually we decided to walk around to the other side of the site, to get a better view and possibly hear the rest of the ceremony. As we came around to Church Street, we were greeted by more barricades, still blocks from the site. There was a police officer standing near the gate, who saw us. “Right this way, guys”.

We were now inside the gates and walking down an open street, surrounded by thousands of citizens. Eventually we were ushered into a restricted area directly on the edge of The Site. We stood with our uniformed brothers and sisters, some making small talk and others standing in solemn silence.

The men and women of the FDNY stood in one area, some talking amongst themselves, but most were standing silently lost in their own memories and experiences of this now hallowed ground.

We were all one family. Many of us had never met before, and most of us will never see each other again. But we came together when it counted most. We supported our brothers and sisters in their moment of need.

Our small group from Oregon came to The Big Apple. Not because we were going to make the difference, and not because someone asked us to go. We did it because it was the right thing to do. Because our family was hurt, and we needed to show our support.

We all have families. Think about yours. Have you seen them lately? Have you told them that you love them? The harsh reality of an event like this is that it reminds us of what’s important in our lives.

Take that lesson to heart. 343 of my brothers will never get to see their families again. They will never go fishing on their favorite stream, or take that vacation that they always wanted to take.

They will never answer another call for help. When the time comes for you to leave this world, don’t be the one saying “I wish I did this, I wish I had told you that”. Do it now, and every day after.

This article was originally published in September 2002 in the South Salem Post. Gerrit Roelof was a volunteer firefighter with the Goldens Bridge FD in Westchester County NY from 1987 - 1996. He moved to Oregon and joined the Marion County Fire District #1 in Salem in 1997. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 2000 and served proudly before leaving the fire service in 2004 to become a police officer.

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When time allows, Gerrit and his family make the break to the Detroit Lake area and other parts of Oregon where hunting and fishing are the order of the day. Gerrit has a way with words that is drawn from both education and life experience. While Gerrit has a full time career in law enforcement and firefighting before that, he has also taken the time to polish his natural skills at delivering written and visual information. He used to have an outdoor column in the South Salem Post. He has also written regular articles for Oregon Fishing & Hunting News and ESPN.com. Gerrit's experience in life is both awe-inspiring and honorable. Gerrit is likable, uniquely qualified, energetic and down to earth. He helps fill the void when it comes to articles about all of the amazing things Oregon has to offer those who have a connection with nature; be it through hiking, fishing, photography, hunting, or so many other outdoor activities here.