Out of a nation’s collective grief, messages of hope and gratitude poured into Ground Zero, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. Many of the messages were letters received from children across the United States. Handmade cards and letters sent to both the American Red Cross National Headquarters and the Greater New York Chapter were displayed in places such as respite centers where rescue workers and fire fighters could view them as they worked around the clock. View these items in the gallery to the right.

These cards, letters and objects represent a moment in time when our nation and the world grappled with such great tragedy, allowing us the unique experience of seeing this tragedy through the eyes of children. It is our hope that this exhibit will not only memorialize our fallen brothers and sisters on that fateful day, but will also pay tribute to the fire fighters today who put their lives on the line each and every day.

The items in this gallery are on loan to the IAFF from the American Red Cross 9/11 Archives. In addition, an exhibition was featured in the lobby of the United Unions Building in Washington, DC in September 2007.

Learn more about the recovery efforts:

International Association of Fire Fighters
American Red Cross
About the Archives
Interesting Facts about the Recovery Efforts

Answered the Call
On the morning of September 11, 2001, four hijacked planes were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon outside Washington, DC, and a Pennsylvania field. Fire fighters raced to the scene, entered the towers and began to do their job — helping people out of the building and treating injuries. In the ensuing operations and collapse of the smoldering towers, 343 FDNY members died.

The Aftermath
The IAFF was at Ground Zero — providing vital administrative and logistical help to Locals 94 and 854. The IAFF quickly established a headquarters in mid-town Manhattan to provide support to fire fighters and the families of those who gave their all.

Critical Incident Stress Management teams made up of IAFF members from across the union traveled to New York City to help their brothers and sisters cope with the grief of the tragedy. The IAFF continued to provide support through counseling services for the New York City locals. The IAFF also provided financial assistance to the families of fallen members through the New York Firefighters 9-11 Relief Fund. In 2002, the IAFF distributed more than $96 million to the families of fire fighters killed on 9/11.

Since 9/11, the IAFF has worked to increase funding for emergency response. The IAFF was one of the first groups to call for a Department of Homeland Security and played a significant role in its creation and in ensuring fire fighters would have a prominent role within DHS.

Never Forget
On October 12, 2001, the IAFF and FDNY held a memorial service for fire fighters who lost their lives on 9/11. IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger and local union leaders led the procession of 356 honor guard members from across the country, each of whom carried a flag for a fallen fire fighter who died that year. More than 75,000 fire fighters attended the memorial, the largest gathering of fire fighters in history.

 

The American Red Cross

Answered the Call
Within minutes of the crash of the Twin Towers, 6,000 trained disaster volunteers were mobilized. Emergency response vehicles were deployed to help victims and rescue workers. One such vehicle was hit with rubble and debris after the collapse of one of the towers. Thankfully, the disaster worker was spared, as at that moment, he was helping an injured woman on the road.

Shelters and respite centers were opened at all disaster sites to provide physical and emotional relief to victim’s families, homeless survivors and first responders.

At the grounding of all commercial air traffic, chapter volunteers around the nation were deployed to assist stranded travelers. Donations of money and blood poured in. The American Red Cross blood donation phone line received more than one million calls (previously, the most received was 3,000).

The Aftermath
American Red Cross Headquarters initiated a 24-hour Emergency Communications Center and launched the Family Registration Web, an online network to unite loved ones with survivors of the attack. The Family Assistance Center was opened to offer financial assistance, crisis and bereavement counseling, meals for families and first responders and other assistance.

The establishment of the Liberty Disaster Fund and the September 11 Recovery Program provided services to affected individuals through programs including the 9/11 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program, Family Gift Program, EPA Assistance Program, Health Services Program, Health Insurance Subsidy Program, Supplemental Gift Program and Special Circumstances Gift Program.

Never Forget
The Anniversary Travel Assistance program was created, to fund travel expenses to bring family members back to Ground Zero to attend the one-year anniversary memorial ceremonies. Remaining funds in the Liberty Disaster Fund were directed to September 11 Recovery Grants to fund other non-profit agencies that offer similar recovery services to affected individuals.

 

About the Archives

Beginning in 2001,The American Red Cross collected, arranged and described materials to document the disaster relief phase, long-term recovery and the September 11 Recovery Program, accumulating more than 300 linear feet of materials. The collection, housed at the American Red Cross Hazel Braugh Records Center, is vast and includes: original disaster relief artifacts, letters and cards, administrative records and an oral history collection. For additional information on the history of the September 11 response, visit the American Red Cross Legacy web site.


 

Interesting Facts About the Recovery Efforts

343 FDNY fire fighters who lost their lives in the WTC

$96 million given to the families of fallen fire fighters

75,000 fire fighters who attended the 9/11 memorial on October 12, 2002, the largest gathering of fire fighters ever