A firefighter who accompanied Bush after the attack on the Twin Towers died at the age of 91

Bob Beckwith, a retired firefighter who became a symbol of American unity and resistance after the September 11, 2001 attacks, has died at age 91. his wife, Barbara Beckwithannounced in the last few hours that her husband died in palliative care on Sunday night, February 5, after battling cancer in recent years.

Beckwith, who lived on Long Island and shared his life with six children, ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, will be remembered not only for his bravery in returning to service after retirement, but also for his iconic moment with the president. . George W. Bush in the ruins of World Trade Center After the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The fact that Beckwith stood next to Bush as the latter gave a speech breathed encouragement into the hearts of weary Americans, Three days after the terrorists struck the Twin Towers, 2,753 people were killed, making it a prominent figure in recent history. USA.

“He was in the right place, at the right time, and that’s what he’s famous for,” he declared. Barbara Beckwith to the media about her husband. But he was a normal person. Good dear and calm”, he highlighted Associated Press.

Bush, who has stayed in touch with the family over the years and even reached out to send his condolences after Beckwith’s health deteriorated, described the latter. A patriot whose “courage represents the intrepid and resilient spirit of New Yorkers and all Americans.” After the attacks. In Bush’s words, “Bob put his uniform back on and, like so many brave first responders, ran into danger to rescue and find others.”

This Uniformed Firefighters Association Beckwith is celebrated as “one of the 9/11 heroes who stood tall for America, New York City and all New Yorkers.” In the words of New York Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, his tireless work in the hours following the tragedy was “a testament to his devotion” to the department. The famous image with Bush is considered “both inspirational and heartbreaking”.

heroic figure of Bob Beckwith She was immortalized by the side of the then President George W. Bush During a symbolic speech at Ground Zero, just three days after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Inspire a nation in mourningBush was at the scene to assess the damage and thank rescue workers for their tireless work.

At the age of 69 at the time, Beckwith interrupted his retirement motivated by an “overwhelming need to be present” at ground zero. I hoped to see the President from a good vantage point, expecting Bush to deliver his speech from a command post set up across the street. However, an unexpected change of plans put Beckwith not only in a privileged position but also in a historic moment, as he ended up sharing the stage with the president.

“I said, ‘Oh my God.’ I put him on the truck, I turned him around. I asked him, ‘Are you okay, Mr. President?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ So, I started to get off and he said, ‘Where are you going?’ I replied, ‘They asked me to come down.’ He said, ‘Oh no, you’re staying here,'” Beckwith recalled during a phone interview CNBC.

The former firefighter scaled the fire truck that he and other workers had helped remove from the wreckage earlier that day, not imagining what would happen next. While waiting for the President to arrive, a member of the Secret Service approached Beckwith with an unusual request. “He’s asking me, ‘Show me this is safe. Jump on it,'” Beckwith obeyed, marking the beginning of the events that would unfold later. Instead of losing his “good place,” as he had feared, Beckwith suddenly found himself in a role that would put him in the spotlight. The nation’s collective memory.

His image, along with that of the President, was broadcast on every television station across the country and his photo graced the cover of a magazine. Time, symbolizes the efforts and sacrifices of first responders during one of America’s darkest days. The interaction between Beckwith and Bush, A display of spontaneity in the midst of chaosunderlines the message of unity and strength that the President wants to convey to his fellow citizens.

The day began with personally tragic news for Beckwith; His grandson was hit by a car on his way to school. While with his grandson at the hospital, Beckwith witnessed the collapse of the Twin Towers on television. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” Beckwith confessed.

Driven by the need for help, he informed his family of his intention to leave zero zone Cope with his loved ones’ concern about the risks involved, given his 69-year-old age, to cooperate with rescue efforts.

Beckwith’s determination is strengthened when he learns that the son of a friend and fellow firefighter is among the missing. Nothing could stop him, even if it meant bending the truth to the National Guard, who initially denied him access to the area.

“I had to think fast,” Beckwith revealed of the moment he convinced the guards to let him in, claiming he was going to be in trouble because he “lost the truck” that morning. Once inside, He joined the Bucket Brigade, a human chain dedicated to clearing the ground and passing buckets full of debris to search for victims.

The story of Beckwith, who found himself at the President’s side at that crucial moment, not only caught the attention of his nation, but was also immortalized on the cover of a magazine. Time Under the headline “One nation, indivisible.”

Former President Bush, in response to the terrorist attacks, was at ground zero and sent a message of both comfort and fortitude to the nation. During that event, in front of the wreckage and a stunned crowd, Bush declared: “I can hear them. The rest of the world hears them. And the people who demolished these buildings will soon hear from all of us.This statement will not only resonate in the hearts of Americans, but will also initiate a united response to terrorism.

The pinnacle moment of this union was evident when Bush, after finishing his speech, began to wave a small American flag, a moment that would be captured by cameras and later adorn its cover. Time. Beckwith shared how in that moment, he looked up at the sky and said, “Look at me, Ma. I’m with the President.”

At the end of the event, a significant gesture will mark Beckwith personally; A Secret Service agent informed him that the President wanted him to keep the flag he was flying. “The President wants you to have this flag,” recalls Beckwith, who did not until that moment realize the magnitude of his participation in the work of national symbolism.

An ordinary man became an international media sensation. Beckwith, a father of six, received a surprising wave of attention after his images made the headlines of “almost every newspaper in the country”, attracting interview requests and even requests for autographs from afar. Russia And Slovakia.

The commotion began when Richard Beckwith, one of his sons, was driving from California to his home in Pittsburgh, unaware that his father was standing next to the president at the time, who had become the center of national attention. “I entered the house and my wife and children were screaming: ‘Dada is on TV! Grandpa’s on TV!”’ Richard recalled.

After his return, he was greeted not only by constant calls to the homes of those who watched him on television, but also by neighbors and acquaintances impressed by his unexpected presence in the media. “A neighbor comes up to me and says, ‘Beck, you were on TV.’ I said, ‘Shut up. There were no cameras.’ He replied, ‘Go and check.’ I walk into the house and my granddaughter is sitting on the couch and she says, ‘Grandpa, you are on television. I looked and said, ‘Oh my God, I’m on TV,'” he said.

In a unique display of the personal relationship between the president and the citizens, George W. Bush has distinguished himself by sending Beckwith a Christmas card he drew every year. Additionally, he and his wife Barbara were honored to be guests at the White House Christmas Party each year of Bush’s presidency.

After 9/11 and until his death on Monday, February 5, Beckwith devoted himself to public speaking and fundraising in the United States and internationally, donating all proceeds to charity. New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation.

The home of Beckwith, who was then being treated for malignant melanoma on his face and ears at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, contains tangible mementos of his experience, including a copy of the magazine’s first edition. Time where he appears on the cover and an American flag given to him by President Bush himself. “It’s not about me,” Beckwith insisted, downplaying his own role.