Reprise: In Memorial - Firefighter Thomas Hetzel

Note: This post is a reprise, originally posted on September 11, 2009 and part of Project 2996.

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It is a rare breed of man or woman that will willingly, unquestioningly, and courageously place themselves in grave danger to protect and save strangers.

This quality cannot be 'taught', we can't 'train' people to be brave, we can't use external motivators like money or prestige to inspire this in people.

The bravest and the most noble among us have this quality as an innate component of their charThomas Hetzelacter.

Many of the men and women so endowed gravitate towards public service, in the military, or in law enforcement or as firefighters.

Thomas Hetzel was one such man. Reading through the numerous tributes left for him, clearly tells the story.

Thomas Hetzel was a member of Ladder Company 13, in Manhattan, and was one of the 343 members of the FDNY who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001.

Thomas by all accounts was a remarkable man.  A caring and loving husband and father, devoted son, and fast friend.  At 33, he was just at the beginning of the arc of his life, with certainly the expectation of a long and happy life, filled with family and friends. Certainly he was well aware of the inherent risk and danger of his profession, but being the kind of man he was, he shouldered those risks quietly, did his duty, cared for his family, and held up his end of the bargain.

Men and women do not take on that responsibility because they have to, or even perhaps because they want to.  They take on that incredible burden because they feel compelled.

Thomas Hetzel was a hero.  To see the chaos, devastation, and turmoil of Ground Zero and to walk in to the abyss, with the only thought being to rescue those already trapped requires courage that is almost incomprehensible.

Thomas Hetzel, along with 342 other members of the FDNY gave his life that day.  Almost 3,000 people lost their lives at the World Trade Center. But 18,000 people survived, many due to the courage, heroism, and sacrifice of people like Thomas Hetzel.

My little memorial here is really a poor effort at honoring a hero like Thomas Hetzel.

As Abraham Lincoln said

The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here

I will never forget Thomas Hetzel, and all the men and women that were the heroes of September 11, 2001.

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Note: This post is a part of Project 2,996, a tribute to the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001.

Notes From the Road - #2 - Lower Manhattan

I was able to spend a few days in lower Manhattan this week, attending and co-presenting at The Conference Board's Senior HR Executive Conference, which was held in lower Manhattan, extremely close to Ground Zero, the site of the fallen World Trade Center towers, and now, the recently opened 9/11 Memorial site. When I realized the proximity of the event to the Memorial, I made plans to visit on Tuesday evening, after the conference activities were complete for the day.View of South reflecting pool

The Memorial is as expected - sad, striking, contemplative; and in my view, a must-visit for anyone making a trip to New York City. The Memorial does require a reservation and a ticket to attend, (they are free), and there is a visible and attentive police and security presence throughout. Which makes perfect sense as when touring the Memorial grounds one gets the sense that the uniformed staff were guarding and protecting their own.

I had previously written about one of the heroes of 9/11, FDNY Firefighter Thomas J. Hetzel, as a part of a blog tribute called Project 2,996. And while I did not personally know any of the heroes and victims of September 11, 2001, Firefighter Hetzel for me, has become almost the face of the tragedy. Brave, selfless, a true hero. And taken from his family and friends far too soon. At the site I located Firefighter Hetzel's name inscribed on the Memorial, almost as if searching for the name of a friend. While I never knew him, I think he represents well the idea that the brave souls lost that day are still a part of all of us, and their loss and sacrifices should never be forgotten.

While the 9/11 Memorial forces us to look back and to reflect, there are obvious and apparent signs that allow us to look forward as well. The sounds and machinery of new construction fills the space, and the rising Freedom Tower looms large and spectacular over the scene. When the final touches are placed on the new Tower, and on all the other projects in the space, they, combined with the Memorial will be even a more fantastic and meaningful site.Freedom Tower - click image for a larger view

Whether or not the process and debate as to what to do with the former World Trade Center site took far too long or was too political, does not not seem to matter much when you look down and see the Memorial or you look up and see the gleaming towers rise to the sky.

I hope everyone that gets a chance to visit New York City in the coming days and months does take the time to head down to lower Manhattan and see the Memorial for themselves, and to pause and reflect on sacrifice, bravery, loss, and rebirth.

Have a great weekend!