Mt. Vernon 2802 Albemarle Dr
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wellbeing Page 21 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper September 8, 2011 Heroics and Heartbreak ing on the 105th floor of personal tragedy. “I ‘We remember World Trade Center 1. thought that after 10 every day.’ “He hung up abruptly years I might be ready to and said he had to go.” watch one of the shows Morris and family on the attacks so I tried By Jeanne Theismann members held out hope watching a National The Gazette that Seth, who had sur- Geographic documen- vived the 1993 World tary. After about five he photograph re- Trade Center bombing, minutes I had to turn it mains instantly rec- had somehow made it off. It’s still too hard.” T ognizable: A single out of the building be- Jim Morris’s As he has in years fragment of time cap- fore it collapsed. brother Seth past, Morris, a married tured on Sept. 12, 2001 when “We spent hours look- perished in father of three children, firefighters and military personnel ing at thousands of pic- the 9/11 will take leave and unfurled a flag atop the Pentagon tures on the web of attack on the mark the anniversary as a symbol of resilience and hope people who had evacu- World Trade privately with his fam- for a nation still paralyzed with ated, looking for his face Center. ily. disbelief at the events of the day in the crowds and hop- “The first couple of by Photo before. ing that he had survived,” said years I felt I should be with my “You’d think after 10 years, it Morris, who has been a firefighter co-workers,” Morris said. “But it’s would get easier but it doesn’t,” and paramedic for 35 years. “We really better if I am alone during Paul Morse said Lieutenant Jim Morris, one of found out on Sept. 13 that nearly this time. And this year espe- four local firefighters pictured in all the Cantor Fitzgerald employ- cially, I don’t want to be watch- what has become a defining im- ees had been trapped on the 105th ing it on TV over and over again.” age of the terrorist attack on the floor and pretty much knew then Morris’s parents will also take off /The White Ho Pentagon. “The emotions of that he didn’t make it.” for a few days to mark the anni- day are still very difficult to talk As the 10th anniversary of the versary privately. Only his about.” 9/11 attacks approaches, calls to brother’s widow, Lynn, who has As Morris joined other Alexan- Morris and the other local remarried, will attend the memo- dria and Penn Daw Fire Station 11 firefighters captured in the photo- rial dedication ceremony in New personnel in the heroic rescue and graph — Capt. David G. Lange, York on Sept. 11. use recovery efforts at the Pentagon, Haz Mat Technician Robert Clarke “I tried attending a ceremony a his mind was 225 miles north in and Apparatus Technician Randy couple of years ago in Milford, Lt. Jim Morris and fellow firefighters from Alexandria New York City, where his brother Schwartz — have intensified and Conn., where my brother and I and Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Station 11 join Seth was still unaccounted for in national media is devoting unprec- grew up,” Morris said. “But it was soldiers atop the Pentagon to hang an American flag the rubble of the World Trade Cen- edented coverage to the events of just too difficult for me to be during rescue and recovery efforts Sept. 12, 2001. ter. that day. there.” “The last we heard from him he “This year is especially rough,” As the nation prepares to com- friend. was on the phone with his wife,” said Morris, who tries to balance memorate 9/11, Morris will qui- “I do understand the historical who lost someone on 9/11, we Morris said of his brother, a bro- interview requests regarding the etly mourn the loss of Seth — a significance of the anniversary,” don’t just remember on one day. ker with Cantor Fitzgerald work- iconic photograph with his own brother, son, husband, father and Morris said. “But for those of us We remember every day.” ceremony in honor of the fallen public can come and find peace and 9/11 Tributes FRIDAY/SEPT. 9 heroes and their families affected by beauty. Police Chief David Rohrer 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony. 12 the 9/11 tragedy, as well as a and Lee District Supervisor Jeff p.m. Market Square, 301 King St., moment of silence for all our heroes McKay will be speaking. Co- Alexandria. The City of Alexandria at war. In conjunction with the sponsored by Wilton Woods Civic will hold a 10th anniversary of the ceremony, the Gunston Fire Association and the Wilton Woods events of Sept. 11, 2011. The Department, Station #20, will give Garden Club which maintains the ceremony will feature remarks from safety lessons, a tour of the fire garden. 3800 block of Ivanhoe Lane, Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, engine and fire safety Wilton Woods, Alexandria. Visit Alexandria Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, demonstrations. Meet the Combat www.gwwca.org/v1/ Police Chief Earl L. Cook, and Fire Veterans of America Motorcycle Club memorial_garden.shtml Chief Adam K. Thiel. The purpose is when they bring their Harleys for 9/11 Tribute. 7:30 p.m. Arlington /The Gazette to give thanks and pay tribute to show and demonstrations. Free, County will honor the 184 lives lost those who responded on 9-11. parking fees apply to general public. during the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on VirginiaStateParks.gov or 703-339- the Pentagon. At the Air Force 2384. Memorial — overlooking the SATURDAY/SEPT. 10 10th Anniversary Rededication Pentagon Memorial — the event that National Day of Service and Ceremony. 4 p.m. The Memorial will include the U.S. Air Force Band Louise Krafft Remembrance. 9:30 a.m. Mason Garden at Wilton Woods was created Brass Quintet Ensemble and Joint Neck State Park, 7301 High Point after 9/11 as a place where the Armed Forces Color Guard. Road, Lorton. Join the 9/11 Tribute Movement with Mason Neck State park as they host charitable activities 9/9/11 Photo by Photo to honor the 9/11 victims, survivors home in Requested and those that rose in service in material. After standing watch over the rebuilding of the south Time-sensitive response to the attacks. Volunteer to wall of the Pentagon following the terrorist attack, Old Postmaster: clean the park shoreline, by Attention Glory was walked through Alexandria at the 2002 St. collecting trash and debris that washes up along the Potomac River #482 Permit Patrick’s Day Parade by members of the Alexandria, VA Alexandria, watershed. The river clean-up begins PAID Arlington, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Wash- at 9:30 a.m. Afterwards, a dogwood Postage U.S. ington Airport and New York City fire departments. tree will be planted in a dedication STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ September 8-14, 2011 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ September 8-14, 2011 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News On Vacation and Saving Lives Couple praises 14-year-old’s quick response. By Katherine Perkins The Gazette /The Gazette enjamin Haseltine of Fort Hunt may be 14 years old, but Bob and Sue Sherburne of BArlington, Mass., believe he is a hero. If it had not been for Ben’s actions on a Maine Louise Krafft seashore early last month, the Sherburnes might not be alive today. On Aug. 9, Ben was on vacation with his family at Moody Beach near Wells, Maine. While enjoying the Photo by Photo surf with his mother and sister, he noticed an older The future is uncertain at Penn-Daw Plaza. couple swimming several yards away. It took him a moment to realize the Sherburnes were in distress. “I saw a rip tide carrying Mrs. Sherburne out like a slingshot,” Ben later said. “She was in way over A Second Chance head.” Sue’s husband, Bill, was being dragged out as well. According to the National Weather Service, rip cur- Supervisor McKay wants to avoid rents — narrow belts of fast-moving water flowing Kings Crossing debacle at Penn-Daw. away from shore — are the cause of more than 100 drowning accidents each year. Swimmers caught in rip currents are advised not to fight the current but By Michael Lee Pope Now, Lee District Supervisor Jeff to float or swim parallel to the shore until the cur- The Gazette McKay has convened a task force rent slackens. But such guidelines can be quickly for- Ben Haseltine of Fort Hunt rescued a to help forge a way forward. gotten in a few moments’ panic. couple swimming near Wells, Maine. ver since the Shopper’s “Instead of letting the developer Those moments were frightening ones for the E Food Warehouse at the tell us what to do or having county Sherburnes. Sue Sherburne remembered to Penn-Daw Plaza closed in officials come up with a plan in a float on her back and called out for her hus- “If it wasn’t for Ben coming up to April, neighbors have been warily vacuum, we want to get a sense band to do the same. But Bob Sherburne soon eyeing the future. Many say they of what the economy will sup- began to tire: “I started to choke on seawater two strangers … he put himself want to avoid what happened port,” said McKay. “This is unprec- and realized I was about to drown.