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STAMFORD, Conn. Sept. 11 is a day that touches Thaddeus Jankowski, Stamfords director of Public Safety, Health, and Welfare, personally as his Brooklyn fire department was one of the many to respond to the World Trade Center.
Jankowski, who was at home when the attacks took place, called his officer on duty, Daniel Suhr, to warn him. This is terrorism, be careful, he remembered telling Suhr 11 years ago.
That was the last time he spoke to Suhr, who died leading people out of the burning buildings. Jankowski said that at least 18 people owe their lives to Suhrs courageous acts, including the other members of Engine 216 that reported to the World Trade Center that day.
After Sept. 11, 2001, the former fire captain remembers thinking the world was an evil place, but he was uplifted by all of the acts of goodwill shown toward the Fire Department of New York and other victims of that day.
He specifically recalled seeing an elderly woman, using a handkerchief to cover her face, deliver food and water to the firefighters at Ground Zero, the community vigil near his former fire house honoring Suhr and the other victims, and all of the fire departments from outside New York coming to the city to volunteer, as reminders of how good the world can be.
The nation itself came together, and that is the way it should be, Jankowski said, before heading down to New York City to attend the ceremony at Ground Zero. He added that he hopes the remembrances and respect shown the first 11 years after the incident continues for years to come.
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