Creating an Everlasting Memorial

September 11 started out as any typical day at the firehouse. We were called over to our main station for training. As we gathered in our day room, reports came in the World Trade Center was on fire. We turned on the TV. The fire was intense and engulfed many floors. It made me recollect other high-rise fires in the past and how difficult they are to combat. We attempted a strategy of how FDNY would combat this fire. We know there was a ton of guys going up into that building. Media reports stated "It may have been a plane that hit the tower, however this was not confirmed". Then a plane came into view on the TV screen. My reaction was "they do fly low". BAM! The plane explodes into the south tower. Our firehouse went quite. We knew we were under attack. We felt helpless. About then, we received a squad run. After treatment and transport to the hospital, reports over our radio confirmed the south tower had collapsed. I went numb. I had an ache in the pit of my stomach. Never thinking that tower could come down that quickly my thoughts ran wild. Who is next? How many people died? Who is responsible? For the first time I felt vulnerable.

My chief put out an order to return to quarters. He received reports there was a plane sequestered on the runway of Cleveland Hopkins Airport, because of a possible hijacking or a bomb on board. Responding back to our firehouse my heart started pounding faster as we became closer to our station, which is only a few hundred yards from the south side of the airport. The second tower now had collapsed. There it was a huge plane standing eerily still. Police, EMS and fire are positioned in the distance. My thoughts are running rapid. My family… is Cleveland under attack… what if the plane explodes…. As the day progressed, it was a false alarm. It was having communication problems. Little did we know that there were true heroes engaged in a life or death battle over Cleveland air space, flight 93. Serial images poured in from Ground Zero. The number of missing started to accumulate. I heard over 300 firefighters were among the missing. How could we help? Without question, firefighters from around the world stood toe to toe working together at Ground Zero. Local towns from coast to coast had firefighters collecting contributions for the families of our fallen brothers. It was incredible to see the overwhelming acts of kindness and generosity throughout the world. The money collected was staggering. I felt I could help the FDNY firefighters by creating an Everlasting Memorial in their fallen brother’s honor; insuring their memory would never be forgotten...

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November 15, 2001 Article interviewing Scott featuring "Forever in Our Memory." Read the article September 21, 2001 Cleveland FOX News 8 featured Scott and his illustration "Forever in Our Memory."