[ 9/11 Memorial Museum – In Memoriam Exhibit ]
[please see: Collage of the Heart]
He stood alone in his dress FDNY uniform, ribbons aligned perfectly, shoes buffed to a patent leather shine, gloves snowy white.
He walked up to a specific one of the 2,983 pictures on the Wall of Faces, gently placed his gloved hand flat on the portrait, lowered his head, and stood motionless for a full minute.
His prayer done, he moved to another FDNY face in another photograph in another row, placed his gloved hand flat on the portrait, lowered his head, and stood motionless for a full minute.
And then he did it again for another of his FDNY brothers.
And again.
And again.
I lost count. But he didn’t.
He performed the same homage over and over, honoring each of his many fallen comrades.
Too many lost. Gone too soon. Too much heartache.
At last he reached his Captain. He placed his gloved hand flat on the portrait, lowered his head, and stood motionless for a full minute. Then he smartly saluted his superior, his hand steady and strong.
And the tears flowed…
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