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CTyankee

(67,063 posts)
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 01:47 PM Thursday

My son was a hero on 9/11.

He was in Brooklyn Law School at the time and he had a day off. However, he saw the events of the day on TV and decided he had to go and do what he could to help. When he got to ground zero he asked first responders what he could do to help them. They said they needed bags of ice so they could reach those buried under burning rubble. So my son went to every bodego and convenience store, explained what he needed and, mostly, got the bags of ice, which he took to the site.

I asked him if anyone was saved and he said that the responders were able to get to several people who had been trapped.

I only found out about this a few years ago. Now I see 9/11 in a very different light.

You might remember my posting this here on DU last year and several years before that (I only found out a few years back as he didn''t talk about it much (if at all).

My son is now a prosecutor in the Brooklyn DA's office.

39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My son was a hero on 9/11. (Original Post) CTyankee Thursday OP
Many thanks to him SheltieLover Thursday #1
Oh yes! CTyankee Thursday #4
You're a great mom! SheltieLover Thursday #15
K & R for visibility malaise Thursday #2
thanks, but I felt I had no real choice. CTyankee Thursday #5
I lived in NYC over a decade. The people there have a very good community spirit. Walleye Thursday #3
You would like him. He's a huge Mets fan and has been since the team was formed. I don't get it, but then I don't get CTyankee Thursday #6
I was a Mets fan too. I was there in 86 when they were in the Series Walleye Thursday #12
The Mets DaBronx Thursday #18
As a NYC'r TY for your kind words. I've helped people, people have helped me. electric_blue68 Friday #36
You must be one proud mom! Diamond_Dog Thursday #7
Yep! CTyankee Thursday #8
Your son sounds amazing. StarryNite Thursday #9
You are welcome. I love bragging on my son! CTyankee Thursday #10
Well done son and dad. This is the first time I've seen this. littlemissmartypants Thursday #11
K&R spanone Thursday #13
You taught him well CTyankee. A good son. Clouds Passing Thursday #14
You have every right to be proud of this young man. hamsterjill Thursday #16
My two daughters are pretty great, too! CTyankee Thursday #17
I would expect nothing less!!! hamsterjill Thursday #21
thank you, hamsterjill! CTyankee Thursday #23
Happy to have a fellow Texas Dem! hamsterjill Thursday #24
We had some fine Texas Dems in my family. They are part of a great heritage which I hope we can bring back! CTyankee Thursday #26
""" AllaN01Bear Thursday #19
Many thanks to your fine son democrank Thursday #20
Outstanding! H2O Man Thursday #22
Really great story newdeal2 Thursday #25
I have to ask my son if he shared that story with his son, all these years later. He might not have... CTyankee Thursday #27
Heros are as heros do. My thanks to your son. And a HUGE hug to his proud mom Stinky The Clown Thursday #28
Yes, your son is a hero! Thank you for sharing his story. lucca18 Thursday #29
He was so brave to go down there and help. You livetohike Thursday #30
Yes. He's one of the heroes of 9/11. calimary Thursday #31
Your son is truly a hero LetMyPeopleVote Thursday #32
Yes he is a hero. And he saved lives. Irish_Dem Thursday #33
You raised BigMin28 Thursday #34
Well, the Vietnam War had a huge impact on me and my world view. I wasn't going to lose him to that war. It was as CTyankee Friday #35
Thank you's to your son. electric_blue68 Friday #37
You should be very proud. PittBlue Friday #38
I think he might be a bit embarrassed by my telling this story. He's not on DU so I'll keep this between us... CTyankee Friday #39

CTyankee

(67,063 posts)
4. Oh yes!
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 01:53 PM
Thursday

I only found out about this few years ago. He didn't brag about it. However, he was a child during the Vietnam War protests and remembers my passion against the war. I was against the war because I didn't want it to last so long it would swallow him up. There was a draft at that time and I felt passionate about protecting him, as any mom would. He says he remembers some of that!

Walleye

(42,449 posts)
3. I lived in NYC over a decade. The people there have a very good community spirit.
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 01:52 PM
Thursday

In spite of the bad reputation, people generally look out for each other there. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the country and thank you to your son. That was a good move.

CTyankee

(67,063 posts)
6. You would like him. He's a huge Mets fan and has been since the team was formed. I don't get it, but then I don't get
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 02:09 PM
Thursday

at all excited about sports.

Walleye

(42,449 posts)
12. I was a Mets fan too. I was there in 86 when they were in the Series
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 03:33 PM
Thursday

Some legendary stars on that team. It was great. I would work in the evenings and hear the games on the radio.

DaBronx

(718 posts)
18. The Mets
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 04:08 PM
Thursday

Posted a 9/11 video on their website today. www.mets.com.
Shea Stadium, as many will recall, was a staging area for supplies. The video is very moving and recounts how the Mets organization helped out and how the team and baseball helped responders and people to begin to heal. It is worthwhile to watch.

littlemissmartypants

(29,741 posts)
11. Well done son and dad. This is the first time I've seen this.
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 03:29 PM
Thursday

Thanks so much for sharing it. ❤️ 🙏

🇺🇸⚖️🗽⚖️🇺🇸

hamsterjill

(16,538 posts)
16. You have every right to be proud of this young man.
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 03:57 PM
Thursday

Thank you for sharing this, and please send him my thanks for what he did. The world needs more CTyankee sons!!!!

CTyankee

(67,063 posts)
23. thank you, hamsterjill!
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 04:32 PM
Thursday

and they, like my son, are good liberal Dems. Thankfully, they are in MA and CA, respectively. I am in CT. All of my family are in blue states. However, my oldest granddaughter is in Austin, TX but she is active in the Texas Democratic Party. She will be an agent of change (and I say this as a 3rd generation Texan myself).

hamsterjill

(16,538 posts)
24. Happy to have a fellow Texas Dem!
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 04:39 PM
Thursday

Appreciate the granddaughter's activity in Austin! There are so many young people, especially young women, in Texas who have bought the Republican spiel. I am grateful always to know there are sane ones out there carrying the torch and maintaining sanity.

Go, granddaughter!!!!

CTyankee

(67,063 posts)
26. We had some fine Texas Dems in my family. They are part of a great heritage which I hope we can bring back!
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 04:47 PM
Thursday

newdeal2

(4,034 posts)
25. Really great story
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 04:43 PM
Thursday

I hope they are recording ordinary people’s stories as well for future generations. There’s already a whole bunch of younger people who were not around that day who need to know how it felt in the days, weeks, months, and years after.

CTyankee

(67,063 posts)
27. I have to ask my son if he shared that story with his son, all these years later. He might not have...
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 04:48 PM
Thursday

Stinky The Clown

(68,790 posts)
28. Heros are as heros do. My thanks to your son. And a HUGE hug to his proud mom
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 04:52 PM
Thursday

Ya done good!! As evidenced by him doing good.

Irish_Dem

(74,770 posts)
33. Yes he is a hero. And he saved lives.
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 05:29 PM
Thursday

Doesn't ask for awards, rewards, praise or applause.
He just got up and did the right thing.

BigMin28

(1,765 posts)
34. You raised
Thu Sep 11, 2025, 07:35 PM
Thursday

A fine and decent man. You should be very proud. Thank you and him. The world needs more people like both of you. ❤️

CTyankee

(67,063 posts)
35. Well, the Vietnam War had a huge impact on me and my world view. I wasn't going to lose him to that war. It was as
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 12:46 AM
Friday

simple as that, really. So I got active in the antiwar movement and so he was used to activism in his mom's life.

CTyankee

(67,063 posts)
39. I think he might be a bit embarrassed by my telling this story. He's not on DU so I'll keep this between us...
Fri Sep 12, 2025, 10:57 AM
Friday
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