On that beautiful September morning, my husband and I watched from California the horror of the attacks on the United States of America.

My husband, Ralph comes from a family of firefighters in NYC and he is retired from the FDNY. His father retired from Rescue 1 in Midtown Manhattan and on 9/11 Ralph had two brothers stationed at that very same firehouse. The WTC was their "baby" as they trained there on a regular basis.

WE KNEW one or both of them would be at the twin towers that morning. It turned out that his oldest brother, Gary, was coming on duty and went to the towers with 10 other men from Rescue 1. Eleven men never returned to the firehouse that day.
Ralph flew to NY on 9/14/01 with the help of the White House, and reached the pile the morning of the 15th. He was at the site until 5/30/02 with a two week break to come home for Christmas. He never found his brother, but he did find many lost souls who were returned to their families.

As we approach the 2nd anniversary of the attack on our great country, Ralph is in his second week of radiation therapy for cancer found in his lymph nodes. His spirits are good, but with 9/11 only days away, I know this is going to be extra hard on him.
Since 9/11 we have been under extreme financial hardship and with his illness, we are doing the best we can to make ends meet. I know he has always wanted one of your flags since we received a sticker at the Family room in Manhattan.

Thank you and God Bless,
Barbara