Fireman Tells The Story Behind Iconic Moment With George W. Bush
Bob Beckwith, a former New York firefighter, is one of the best known faces of the rescue efforts following the September 11, 2001.
The photo of him wearing his fireman's helmet, standing next to then-President George W. Bush on top of ash covered the remains of a fire engine, was legendary. She made the cover of next New York Post and by Time Magazine.
Also boosted the role of the nation's pensioners.
Beckwith, 79, still lives in the same house in Baldwin, Long Island, which he shared with his wife, Barbara, 77, since 1958.
"I was just an old man, just old and enjoy my retirement. Below 09.11 arrived," he said.
That morning, the tomb 10 years ago, had already met with a terrible shock: his 14-year-old nephew was under the car when he was cycling to school. Beckwith rushed to the scene, fought their way through the crowd and waited for the guy side of the ambulance to arrive. Soon after, he stopped on the way home from the hospital, heard the news on the radio what was happening in the World Trade Center, and on TV.
"I heard a small plane into the tower is gone," he said. "I see the smoke on the upper floors, and then the wind took the smoke. I said, 'Well, it's a little more than a small plane." ... I could not understand what was going on. "
Less than an hour later I was in the emergency room in nearby Mineola, together with others to television. This is where the former firefighter, who had been retired for seven years, saw the collapse of the south tower. The hospital, which became his little son would be fine, I knew I had to go.
Initially, his six adult children - refused to let him go - and his wife. By September 13, his ardent will win their protests. A former trade unionist of his, Jimmy Boyle, had not yet heard of his son, Michael, 37, who was also a firefighter and had not yet been found in the ruins of buildings knocked ..
"When [ed] that his son had gone, I said, 'That's it, I'm outta here", "Beckwith said.
FDNY dressed dressed in old, he managed to bluff his way past the roadblocks and barricades in the area of the wreck and began first on a bucket brigade, and research, with other firemen, for missing persons.
An hour later, he and some of the men were exposed to the fire, they tested its stability, and the Secret Service agent ordered him to help the next person who came through the surface of the slide. "You do what you're told by the Secret Service talking about," he says.
So he found himself offering his hand, President Bush, who has joined his truck and called Beckwith remain in force and does not go down as he was commanded to make a secret agent of the service.
The cover of Time magazine with this picture hangs now enlarged and framed in his den. "All these guys come to my interview, they must all have a picture of her," he said.
He is also the first printed edition of the bridge, waved the flag at Ground Zero received the screen, given to him by President Bush. He is committed to the elements to go to the 9 / 11 Memorial after it surrendered. He has already donated his helmet and protective clothing he wore that day.
Since 9 / 11, Beckwith has been comfortable as a public speaker who frequently works on behalf of the FDNY Burn Center Foundation.
He has traveled the world, visited by former President Bush 11 times (the presence of various parties in the White House), and interviews are available at peace. He has seen much in the U.S. and has visited Germany and Ireland.
It is a 180-degree turn as he initially thought of fame.
After the photo made him a sensation, "I do not want any part of it," he said.
"When I go to the block [Long Island], people from their homes and come in my way, and bearing candles," he recalls. At dinner that night, was on television. Foreigners began to approach him and asked if he was the man.
Then came the phone calls. Beckwith remember to leave Diane Sawyer, Rosie O'Donnell, the Today show. "I'm nobody," he said. "I wanted no part of it is a bad time."
Finally, a family friend pointed out to him: "If you do not get on these shows now ... one else will tell your story. "He then decided to say yes when the next call came. His first appearance (" I was a nervous wreck, "he says) was on MSNBC.
"I started out of my shell, I started meeting people and talking, and I'm happy," he said.
In the Burn Center has received donations of thousands of efforts Beckwith, as a result, says Gwen Curran. Instead of having to accept payments, he says, asking for a donation to Burn Center.
Despite his speaking tours are not motivated, Beckwith said his desire to keep alive the story is what keeps you going.
"" You'll meet his Creator, and his story will never be known, I think, "he said." It's a family affair. "
Every year since the attacks, Beckwith has visited Point Lookout, 9 / 11 memorial in Queens, to reflect on that day. "I did not want to go down [Ground Zero], because I have lost almost none - I have lost friends," he says.
He saw the Memorial when he gave his helmet and clothing, but only 20 floors above. "They do a good job. I have seen what happens, and I want to see the finished product, too," he says.
Although not interested in thinking about what life might have seemed no 9 / 11, his wife, Barbara, is happy to talk.
"We have not much care for children [more]," he said. "We have been working with the Center for burns, visit [the hospital], which were across the world and do things that would not have done."
"He did not just curl up and become an old man in retirement, so it keeps us young and keeps us moving," she said.
After the anniversary of 10 th anniversary of the tragedy, she said that demand for appearances will probably decrease.
"They never forget, as they say, but they must move on a bit. Hopefully it will happen. "
The photo of him wearing his fireman's helmet, standing next to then-President George W. Bush on top of ash covered the remains of a fire engine, was legendary. She made the cover of next New York Post and by Time Magazine.
Also boosted the role of the nation's pensioners.
Beckwith, 79, still lives in the same house in Baldwin, Long Island, which he shared with his wife, Barbara, 77, since 1958.
"I was just an old man, just old and enjoy my retirement. Below 09.11 arrived," he said.
"I heard a small plane into the tower is gone," he said. "I see the smoke on the upper floors, and then the wind took the smoke. I said, 'Well, it's a little more than a small plane." ... I could not understand what was going on. "
Less than an hour later I was in the emergency room in nearby Mineola, together with others to television. This is where the former firefighter, who had been retired for seven years, saw the collapse of the south tower. The hospital, which became his little son would be fine, I knew I had to go.
"When [ed] that his son had gone, I said, 'That's it, I'm outta here", "Beckwith said.
FDNY dressed dressed in old, he managed to bluff his way past the roadblocks and barricades in the area of the wreck and began first on a bucket brigade, and research, with other firemen, for missing persons.
An hour later, he and some of the men were exposed to the fire, they tested its stability, and the Secret Service agent ordered him to help the next person who came through the surface of the slide. "You do what you're told by the Secret Service talking about," he says.
So he found himself offering his hand, President Bush, who has joined his truck and called Beckwith remain in force and does not go down as he was commanded to make a secret agent of the service.
The cover of Time magazine with this picture hangs now enlarged and framed in his den. "All these guys come to my interview, they must all have a picture of her," he said.
Since 9 / 11, Beckwith has been comfortable as a public speaker who frequently works on behalf of the FDNY Burn Center Foundation.
He has traveled the world, visited by former President Bush 11 times (the presence of various parties in the White House), and interviews are available at peace. He has seen much in the U.S. and has visited Germany and Ireland.
It is a 180-degree turn as he initially thought of fame.
After the photo made him a sensation, "I do not want any part of it," he said.
"When I go to the block [Long Island], people from their homes and come in my way, and bearing candles," he recalls. At dinner that night, was on television. Foreigners began to approach him and asked if he was the man.
Then came the phone calls. Beckwith remember to leave Diane Sawyer, Rosie O'Donnell, the Today show. "I'm nobody," he said. "I wanted no part of it is a bad time."
Finally, a family friend pointed out to him: "If you do not get on these shows now ... one else will tell your story. "He then decided to say yes when the next call came. His first appearance (" I was a nervous wreck, "he says) was on MSNBC.
In the Burn Center has received donations of thousands of efforts Beckwith, as a result, says Gwen Curran. Instead of having to accept payments, he says, asking for a donation to Burn Center.
Despite his speaking tours are not motivated, Beckwith said his desire to keep alive the story is what keeps you going.
"" You'll meet his Creator, and his story will never be known, I think, "he said." It's a family affair. "
Every year since the attacks, Beckwith has visited Point Lookout, 9 / 11 memorial in Queens, to reflect on that day. "I did not want to go down [Ground Zero], because I have lost almost none - I have lost friends," he says.
He saw the Memorial when he gave his helmet and clothing, but only 20 floors above. "They do a good job. I have seen what happens, and I want to see the finished product, too," he says.
Although not interested in thinking about what life might have seemed no 9 / 11, his wife, Barbara, is happy to talk.
"We have not much care for children [more]," he said. "We have been working with the Center for burns, visit [the hospital], which were across the world and do things that would not have done."
"He did not just curl up and become an old man in retirement, so it keeps us young and keeps us moving," she said.
After the anniversary of 10 th anniversary of the tragedy, she said that demand for appearances will probably decrease.
"They never forget, as they say, but they must move on a bit. Hopefully it will happen. "
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