23 years have now passed since the trajectory of history was forever altered by the 9/11 attacks. Of course, when it happened, many of us knew we’d never forget that day. Yet time dulls even the most painful memories.
Among the heroes of 9/11, which included the FDNY, NYPD, PAPD, EMS and other agencies, were the volunteers of Hatzolah.
Chevra Hatzalah played a pivotal role in the World Trade Center rescue operations. The very first ambulance to arrive at the World Trade Center following the first plane crash on September 11, 2001 was a Hatzalah ambulance. By the time the second airplane crashed into the second tower, there were two dozen Hatzalah ambulances at the scene, including Hatzalah’s Communications and Command Center trailer, and more than 100 Hatzalah EMTs, paramedics, and doctors on scene. Before the buildings came down, ambulances had arrived from Hatzalah of Rockland County, 40 miles to the North, with additional medics and EMTs. During the first hour, over 125 patients were transported to area hospitals by Hatzalah ambulances.
At the south end of the Twin Towers, Hatzalah was the predominant ambulance service covering the disaster scene. Hatzalah ambulances transported numerous victims, including firefighters and police officers.
The following footage was released in 2015 for the first time to the public by YWN.
In addition, Hatzalah assisted in the rescue of thousands of men, women and children who escaped to the docks near the Holocaust Museum in Battery Park, and helped evacuate them onto boats headed for New Jersey. Some Hatzalah volunteers went missing for periods of time throughout the day, but, b’chasdei hashem, there were few casualties amongst the Hatzalah team, and miraculously, all Hatzalah members survived. Tragically, there have been multiple Hatzalah members who were since Niftar from 9/11-related diseases.
Listen below to the frightening radio transmissions of frantic Hatzalah members screaming for help as the World Trade Center collapsed on top of them. Fast forward to 8:00 to hear the collapse of the first tower. Perhaps the most frightening moment is at 12:20 – when a member tells the dispatcher “tell my wife at least I said Shema.”
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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One Response
I so most definitely have NOT forgotten this most dramatic of days [only superceded by 10/7] & having witnessed it in person shall NEVER forget. Only a fool would let him/herself forget.