As Wednesday marks the twenty third anniversary of the September 11 terrorist assaults, we should always all pause and replicate on these harmless lives misplaced that day, but in addition the tales of heroism of those that selflessly sacrificed themselves.
One identify that involves thoughts is Welles Crowther, also called “The Man within the Pink Bandana.” On the time of the assaults, Welles was working as an equities dealer on the 104th ground of the South Tower. He additionally volunteered as a firefighter in his hometown of Nyack, New York.
After United Flight 175 struck at 9:03 AM, Crowther made three journeys into the constructing to rescue survivors earlier than its collapse. His physique was found six months later.
WNBC posted the above about Welles’ story on Wednesday, together with quotes from interviews Chuck Scarborough did together with his mother and father, Allison and Jeff Crowther.
Jeff Crowther spoke about his son’s heroism in that second: “He was performing as a firefighter on the final hour of his life. He wasn’t an equities dealer anymore. He was a firefighter.”
In 2019, ESPN‘s “SC Featured” filmed a documentary on Crowther’s life. Right here, his father revealed his motivations not simply to work in an workplace, however that he felt referred to as to firefighting.
“Welles referred to as me in the future and mentioned, ‘, dad, I believe wish to change my profession.’ I mentioned, ‘Excuse me?’ He mentioned, ‘I believe I wish to be a New York Metropolis firefighter.’ He additionally mentioned, ‘Dad, if I sit in entrance of this laptop for the remainder of my life, I’ll go loopy.”
Crowther had carried a pink bandana with him since his childhood in Nyack. Whereas his father gave him his first one, he was seen carrying them all through his life.
At the same time as a division one lacrosse participant for Boston School, Crowther could possibly be seen sporting his pink bandana.
It was his distinctive pink bandana that helped establish Crowther for his household after 9/11, giving them the tragic information their son was gone.
ESPN paperwork the day was March 19, 2002, when his physique was found in what was the foyer of the South Tower. His household didn’t know till Might of that yr, when the New York Occasions revealed testimony from that day the place a mysterious man sporting a pink bandana was calling out to these in want.
His mom later confirmed with survivors who encountered the person that who they noticed was, the truth is, her son.
She was devastated, telling WNBC, “The primary yr I had a lot bodily ache it was doing bodily injury to my physique.”
Whereas Jeff Crowther was so pleased with his sons’ actions in rescuing individuals, he nonetheless misses him dearly.
“However after all, I’d commerce each little bit of that delight to have him standing with us right here proper now. However I used to be so very pleased with him and I knew that the world was him. And the world was seeing what a tremendous younger man he was.”
Whereas his household is heartbroken, Welles Crowther’s actions that day show character and selflessness we should always all hope to aspire to.
When his father was interviewed by ESPN, he gave a bible verse wherein Jesus mentioned one thing that completely sums up the lifetime of his son.
John 15:13 – “Better love has nobody than this, that somebody lay down his life for his associates.”
This text appeared initially on The Western Journal.
