September 11th and the memories will forever be burned in my mind as I’m sure it is for many of you. On that fateful day many brave people died trying to rescue those who were trapped. I wear a memory bracelet with Capt. Daniel Brethel name on it he like many of his fellow NYFD lost his life trying to save others at what is now called ground zero.
Daniel Brethel, captain of Ladder 24 on West 31st Street in Manhattan, had had some close calls: His neck and ears had been burned when he was holding his helmet over an injured firefighter who was lying on the street; once he had required a skin graft. Arriving at the World Trade Center after both jets had hit, he shouted a warning to his men: “Guys, be very careful, because firemen are going to die today.”
He had been off duty at 9 a.m. His wife, Carol, hearing about the attack at their home in Farmingdale, hoped he was already on the train and knew nothing about it. On Tuesday night, they came to the house and told her they had found his body. Captain Brethel, 43, had grabbed one of his men as a building started to collapse. They dived under a firetruck. Both were crushed.
Today I’ll take some time to reflect on the overwhelming sacrifices that were made that day. As well as offer a prayer for the families that lost love ones. No matter your political views on the war against terror many of our young people stand on our behalf in harms way on foreign soil. I hope you’ll join me in praying for their safety l and safe return to their families.
