Vancouver Fire T-shirt pulled from 9/11 rubble serves as reminder of tragedy
Posted September 11, 2019 7:15 pm.
Last Updated September 11, 2019 7:20 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A Vancouver Fire T-shirt pulled from the rubble at Ground Zero is being called a stark reminder of the tragedy of 9/11.
Vancouver Firefighter Craig Lainther says the shirt exemplifies the bond between firefighters. The shirt has been framed and hangs in the union office in Burnaby.
While searching through the site of the World Trade Center, a #VancouverFirefighter shirt was found in the rubble. It was likely worn by one of the 343 fallen @FDNY members. This shirt represents how connected & united the Firefighter family really is. #NeverForget @FireChiefReid pic.twitter.com/uBLYZBZKFE
— Van Fire Fighters (@IAFF18) September 11, 2019
“It is overwhelming, the smell of the concrete that has been impregnanted into the shirt. It almost takes your breath away, it’s so strong,” he says.
“On this occasion, when they were unfortunately digging out embers during the 9/11 disaster, they found the T-shirt in there.”
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He says Vancouver has always had a close relationship with New York. Firefighters often drop in to visit eachother in their respective cities, such as for playing in hockey tournaments. Sometimes, they exchange souveniers, like a T-shirt.
“Different firemen went there for months and attended hundresds of funerals themselves, and then, vice-versa, we had some of the firefighters over here just to get away from things,” he says.
The shirt may have been with a firefighter when they climbed the tower.
Now, Lainther says the shirt serves as a constant reminder of sacrifices made by first responders on that day.
