This is from John Tobin: Instead of working on something I should be doing, I decided to do this instead… drats. Ever wonder how Elgin, IL could be connected in any way to the September 11th attacks in New York? Attached is a post from another site that tells the story of four Elgin firefighters (three now retired) and their trip to the East Coast. They were on a mission to deliver a new fire truck to the FDNY. The truck was nearly ready for delivery when the attacks happened. Along with them were many specially made cards of sympathy and support from young and older citizens of Elgin. When we left Elgin for New York, the front of the cab was completely filled with cards, posters, and food for the trip. It wasn’t every day you saw something like this, and I’ll never forget it. I had never seen Elgin so united before. On the way back after dropping off the truck, we stopped to post the cards for everyone to see. Read on: Interesting comments about replacement vehicles for the FDNY after 9/11. There was an order for multiple aerials at Seagrave (SFA) that was being delivered during that time. One of the most dedicated employees at SFA was Glenn Bennett, a delivery driver with a big heart. He delivered an aerial just before the attacks and ended up stranded in New York. As you know, airlines were shut down. I called him and he mentioned he couldn’t get back. SFA was having trouble finding drivers for the next aerial. He was helping clean up rigs and installing windshields at the FDNY shops. I immediately called SFA, and since I had driven rigs for them over the years, they took me up on my offer — going out with a chase vehicle and three other firefighters from home. The truck was ready by Saturday noon. What started as an urgent delivery turned into a media goodwill tour, which some at SFA didn’t appreciate. I got in trouble for a long time. After getting the truck back to Illinois that evening, we drove straight through to New York. There was a dilemma: the guys wanted to work at Ground Zero, but we arrived in the middle of the night. I wanted to meet up with Glenn, but it never happened. We decided to take the rig to Ground Zero and leave at first light for the drop-off point in South Plainfield. Not only did they need the truck badly, it was also loaded with spare parts. We were met with interest and even interviewed on radio and CNN’s squawk box. At first light, there was gridlock, and it was quite a challenge to get out of the city. The rig arrived safely, and we stayed two days to help “the pile.†While some grandstanding comments hurt, our goal was always about our FDNY brothers. PS – Glenn, you were a hero in your own right. Rest in peace, my dear friend. These photos capture the journey of the Seagrave ladder truck as it was delivered to NYC shortly after 9/11. From the moment it left Elgin, the effort and emotion behind the mission were evident. The truck was not just a machine, but a symbol of hope, unity, and sacrifice. All ready to leave EFD station #2… let’s roll. Somewhere on I-80… Ohio perhaps. Just arriving at ground zero trying to find a safe spot to park. The now famous L-3 rolls past. Interesting how the derbies hang off the truck from the offices of the World Trade Center… inclusive of a cord and receiver from someone’s desk. L-3 is now on static display at the memorial. Wonder if “Jeff we will not forget you†is still on the back door? Taking it all in as a tower ladder still flows water and parts of what are left of the World Trade Center rise high into the night sky. The night begins to give up its darkness and the complete picture will soon be in view. An FDNY officer overlooks “the pile†as it was to be called. At various points, bucket brigades were set up to sift through the debris for anything that could be recovered. It was anyone’s guess what might be in the ground-up debris… I have never since looked upon a plastic bucket the same as before 9/11. My chase driver readies our final route to safely deliver the rig, which was loaded with much-needed spare parts for the rigs that would be salvaged. Later, he would uncover a firefighter on “the pile†and alert the FDNY team to remove the remains. The look on the firefighter’s face says it all… I didn’t get a chance to say hello… his “T†shirt said Las Vegas FD on the back. There were firefighters from all over the country who came to New York after the attacks. Many were frustrated because there was nothing they could do… I felt fortunate to have had a task to complete. Up go more cards from the Elgin school kids… not one was missed. A year later, some of us returned to visit where the truck ended up. Ladder 11, as it's called, is in the Alphabet City section of New York, not far from where the World Trade Center stood. The burned ladder sign on the front of the station was recovered from their wrecked truck. The front mural says it all. They promised they would never forget. Spinning Towable Tube,Towable Tube For Boating,Inflatable Towable Tube For Boat Sichuan AIDIAO Industry and Trade Limited Company , https://www.idaovlai.com